babes with babes - a hunter tafensw outreach initiative

Babes with Babes Conference 2007

““Babes with Babes”Babes with Babes”Education to Education to

Engage, Empower and Enjoy!Engage, Empower and Enjoy!


OverviewOverview

• Who Who areare the Babes? the Babes?• What is “What is “Babes with Babes””• Who are the Who are the PartnersPartners??• What we What we KnowKnow so far so far• What would What would youyou like to ask like to ask

us?us?


Who Who areare the Babes? the Babes?

• Young women (14-21 years) who Young women (14-21 years) who are pregnant or new mumsare pregnant or new mums

• Living in the Central CoastLiving in the Central Coast• Have discontinued their educationHave discontinued their education

……


What is “What is “Babes with Babes with BabesBabes””

BwBBwB is a program conducted at is a program conducted at the the

•Beachside Family Centre and Beachside Family Centre and •Dolphin Cottage Dolphin Cottage

on the Central Coast to assist on the Central Coast to assist young mums to re-engage with young mums to re-engage with educationeducation


Who are the Who are the PartnersPartners??

• SACC Facilitators SACC Facilitators • TAFE Outreach Coordinators TAFE Outreach Coordinators

/OTEN/OTEN• Gosford City Family Support Gosford City Family Support • Wyong Shire CouncilWyong Shire Council• Family and Children Services Family and Children Services

Central CoastCentral Coast


Who are the Who are the PartnersPartners??

… … and in true consultative and in true consultative spirit… the Babes spirit… the Babes themselves!themselves!


Crèche CarersCrèche Carers


AIM of the GROUPAIM of the GROUP

To create a program for To create a program for young mums and their young mums and their children that facilitates children that facilitates

positive learning in a safe positive learning in a safe and welcoming environment and welcoming environment


OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

To create a social To create a social environment that environment that

encourages positive peer encourages positive peer review and development of review and development of

self efficacyself efficacy



To provide a childcare To provide a childcare environment that is environment that is safe, safe, healthy and stimulatinghealthy and stimulating

for the children for the children



To create To create flexible and flexible and individualindividual learning learning

pathwayspathways that encourage that encourage development of nominated development of nominated

learning goals learning goals


Flexible LearningFlexible Learning



To develop a strong and To develop a strong and workable workable partnershippartnership



To enable access to the To enable access to the program by provision of program by provision of

transporttransport



To document the process To document the process and and evaluateevaluate the program the program


What we What we KnowKnow so far so far

The percentage of babies born in 2004 at The percentage of babies born in 2004 at Central Coast public hospitals to mothers Central Coast public hospitals to mothers

under the age of 20 was 6.3%under the age of 20 was 6.3%[1][1]. .

This compares with a state wide figure of This compares with a state wide figure of 4.0%4.0%[2][2]..

[1][1] Central Coast Health Obstetric Database 2004 Central Coast Health Obstetric Database 2004 [2] NSW Mothers and Babies 2004 Report, p 19[2] NSW Mothers and Babies 2004 Report, p 19



The Babes response:The Babes response:

““I love this class. I’ve met heaps of I love this class. I’ve met heaps of girlz all really nice and fun to be girlz all really nice and fun to be with…If I wasn’t here I’d just be with…If I wasn’t here I’d just be living day to day”living day to day”



““I fell pregnant when I was 18 and I I fell pregnant when I was 18 and I was at Tafe doing my HSC but I had was at Tafe doing my HSC but I had to leave because it was getting too to leave because it was getting too hard traveling and very hard traveling and very uncomfortable sitting in a chair for uncomfortable sitting in a chair for so long being that pregnant. I really so long being that pregnant. I really wanted to get my HSC so I really like wanted to get my HSC so I really like this programthis program’’



““I love coming here I love coming here because I know that my because I know that my baby is looked after, and I baby is looked after, and I can sit down and do my can sit down and do my work.” work.”



“…“…And if I ever feel down And if I ever feel down or need help with anything or need help with anything they always offer to help they always offer to help me or talk to me.” me or talk to me.”



““It’s important that I come here It’s important that I come here because I want my children to because I want my children to know that you can be young, single know that you can be young, single and still do what you want to with and still do what you want to with a little help from people that are a little help from people that are interested… Also don’t want to be interested… Also don’t want to be branded a derro mum”.branded a derro mum”.


Nuts and Bolts of Learning Nuts and Bolts of Learning EnvironmentEnvironment

• Negotiated Learning…what do you want to learn and how?Negotiated Learning…what do you want to learn and how?• Successful Learning Celebrations…families invited !Successful Learning Celebrations…families invited !• Shared meals…all contributeShared meals…all contribute• Learner support via textingLearner support via texting• Strengths based approachStrengths based approach• Learners develop classroom systemsLearners develop classroom systems• Voting on issuesVoting on issues• Advocacy and public speaking re BwBAdvocacy and public speaking re BwB• Journal writingJournal writing• Theatre sportsTheatre sports

Learning outcomes to dateLearning outcomes to date• HSC subjectsHSC subjects• CERT III Real Estate, Medical AdministrationCERT III Real Estate, Medical Administration• Year 10 modulesYear 10 modules• Statement of AttainmentsStatement of Attainments• Digi StorytellingDigi Storytelling• Pampering with the Body ShopPampering with the Body Shop• Sexual awareness workshopsSexual awareness workshops• Youth Booth…health clinicYouth Booth…health clinic• Parenting workshopsParenting workshops


Have the objectives Have the objectives been achieved?been achieved?

A Formal EvaluationA Formal Evaluation collated collated information from a number of sources:information from a number of sources:

• Personal diaries of students and workersPersonal diaries of students and workers• Student QuestionairesStudent Questionaires• Partners QuestionairesPartners Questionaires• Record of attendances of students and Record of attendances of students and

childrenchildren• Learning achievements of studentsLearning achievements of studentsBwB achieved its objectives in 2005 and 2006!BwB achieved its objectives in 2005 and 2006!


In A NutshellIn A Nutshell

• Flexible and Fun LearningFlexible and Fun Learning• Child Safe TransportChild Safe Transport• Quality Crèche Quality Crèche • Social Connection and Social Connection and

NetworkingNetworking


QuestionsQuestions

What What would would youyou like like to ask to ask us? …..us? …..