Page 1044 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 24 March 2015
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Since its inception in 2005, CCCares has supported hundreds of young parents in their quest to complete their formal education. Reconnecting with education can often be a difficult prospect for young parents. The new CCCares facility allows for the provision of individualised and flexible programs, designed particularly to meet the educational needs of young parents and the care needs of their children. It provides flexible open learning areas, as well as specialised teaching spaces.
At the new facility, CCCares students have greater access to a variety of vocational studies, including an industry-standard hair and beauty salon, allowing for competency-based vocational training. This space will also enhance student learning around topics such as personal grooming and presentation at interviews.
There is an industry-standard hospitality suite and coffee nook, where students can achieve vocational competencies from a variety of packages, including home kitchens that will focus on meal preparation. There is a group room for studies including children’s services, where students engage in a combination of theoretical and practical activities with their children. This training for their certificate III in children’s services also enhances the operation of the daily CCCares program for parental care of their children and babies. There are inside and outside spaces for parent and child to maximise fine motor skills, and to learn how to play in an appropriate and safe manner.
Extensive partnerships and linkages with community organisations allow the CCCares program to be a one-stop learning shop for young parents. At the new CCCares facility nurses from the child, youth and women’s health program provide twice-weekly on-site clinics, ensuring advice and care are made available to pregnant young women, young parents and their children who may otherwise not have contact or, indeed, little contact with health services. They also provide referrals for individuals to off-campus health professionals, maintain individual health records of students and their children, and advise teaching staff on a range of health and welfare issues.
This is a fabulous facility and I am very proud to be part of a Labor government that, since 2005—for a decade—has seen this as a priority and has seen it realised in this wonderful facility on the college campus at Woden.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, what benefits will co-locating CCCares on the main college site have for students?
MS BURCH: Apart from having a brand-new purpose-built building with all the facilities that I have mentioned, moving CCCares to the Canberra College campus provides many additional benefits.
We know that being a new parent can be very isolating, perhaps even more so at a very young age. The co-location of CCCares facilities with Canberra College will significantly reduce the social isolation that is often experienced by young parents. The new facility offers students the opportunity to make social connections across the
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