Advance Schools Program
Advance is a school-based program for young people to volunteer in their community. It is a partnership between the Office for Youth, Victorian government secondary schools and community organisations.
Through Advance, young people, schools and community organisations develop networks of relationships while achieving shared goals. The program also encourages communities to support and recognise young people’s participation and positive role in society.
Advance gives young people a chance to do something great in their community based on their choice. Young people are able to plan projects, meet new people, build skills and make a difference in their community.
The Advance framework
Participating schools deliver five program elements:
- Learning modules 1, 2 and 3 (Community, Communication and Project management skill development)
- Recognised training
- A community project or series of volunteering activities delivered in partnership with innovative approaches to program delivery are encouraged
- Recognition and celebration
- Young people involved in decison making
Program reporting is also expected by schools participating in the Advance program.
Program delivery
Advance is delivered in a range of school settings including secondary schools (yrs 7-12), special schools, special developmental schools, English as a second language schools and Indigenous school campuses. Schools decide how to target and deliver Advance and implement the program in a range of ways such as:
- integrated into core curriculum
- as an elective inside of school time
- as an elective outside of school time
to assist in the enrichment and delivery of:
- the Victorian Essential Standards Framework (VELS)
- the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL)
- Vocational Education Training
The flexibility of Advance means it can be modified to suit the needs, interests and abilities of any number of students from a range of diverse backgrounds and locations. Innovative approaches to the program delivery are encouraged.
Resources and support
Advance is delivered through a partnership between the Office for Youth, Victorian Government secondary school campuses and community organisations where:
- The Office for Youth provides program funding, guidelines, curriculum materials and support to plan, implement and evaluate Advance
- Schools provide a learning environment that supports youth development
- Community organisations may be involved in a range of ways, including providing materials, a learning environment and support for young people’s community activities using a youth development approach
The Office for Youth has developed a range of tools for schools and for community organisations to help deliver Advance. Review the pages below to find out more.
- Schools and the Advance program
Provides schools participating in the Advance program with additional resources and materials for teachers, students, communication and promotion as well as program registration information and end-of-year reporting templates.
- Community organisations and the Advance program
Outlines the benefits of the Advance in schools program to community organisations, the program handbook and guidelines and resources for communication and promotion for use by participating schools and community organisations.
- Advance in Action
Facts and statistics about the Advance program in schools including an evaluation, survey results and program descriptions from participating schools past and present.
