Independent Learning Centre - Mount Gambier

Location :

5 Percy Street, Mount Gambier, SA, Mount Gambier, South Australia 5290

The Independent Learning Centre opened its doors in January 2007 as a cooperative pilot program between the State Government’s Department of Education and Children’s Services (DECD) and the Federal Government’s FOCiS on Youth initiative, and, later the Innovative Community Action Networks (ICAN) initiative.

Our students are teenagers who have either become disengaged from school or who have left school early in the hope of gaining employment. Many of them have experienced issues which would normally act as a barrier to learning and positive community participation, such as bullying, pregnancy, parenthood, mental and health issues, family issues, lack of flexibility at the host school and years of non-attendance.

The ILC's key priority is to help these young people complete their South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) and provide pathways to vocational training and employment through a more flexible approach to learning and individual case management.

The ILC facilitates a range of community-based programs to equip students with skills designed to assist their transition into the community in a productive and positive way, and also works to re-engage students into local school programs and to assist schools with initiatives to develop more flexible approaches within their curriculum.

Troy Bell, Louise Johnson, and Kate Barnes were the prime movers of this program along with Robert Barton, Christine Hart and Deb Thompson.

In 2008 funding for the Centre changed and we came under the Innovative Community Action Networks Initiative (DECD) which meant that only students aged 16-19 who require community based re-engagement programs with extensive external off site case management could be enrolled.

In 2011 Troy Bell was appointed as Manager of the ILC and introduced the concept of linking with Millicent High School to run "Try a Trade" programs in Automotive, Building Trades and Engineering. These programs give students the opportunity to experience differing trades and develop skills in a non-threatening and supportive way.

Experienced tradesmen act as mentors to assist students with developing the skills, attitudes and attributes expected by employers. New subjects in literacy, numeracy and Outdoor Education complement the Personal Learning Plan, Community Studies, Research Project and Workplace Studies offered for students to complete the SACE.