Programs

Beyond Billabong programs are aimed at empowering youth with the life skills to make positive life choices through innovative and holistic programs. The programs are filled with activities to ‘Romance the participants into training’.

The programs are structured in a caring, loving and safe environment. The objectives of the program are to help participants gain respect for themselves and for others, pride in their achievements and a better appreciation of their own identity and self worth. Specifically:

• To assist participants to develop and strengthen life skills
• To assist participants to develop generic work skills
• To assist participants to develop and strengthen personal development and growth
• To assist participants to increase level of self awareness
• To assist participants with necessary skills to make better informed life choices

Programs are run with a maximum of twelve participants to ensure groups are manageable and that an appropriate mentor / participant balance is maintained.

Elements of a program 

The Core Learning Outcomes are based around the industry elements of:

Horsemanship & livestock handling
This component not only gives skills in the rural industry, but also develops a new practical perspective on human interactions.  The understanding, tolerance, and patience that is essential for effective horsemanship is carried across into everyday relationships.

Leatherwork
The leatherwork component gives the participants the ability to create something useful that they can take home.  It allows them to succeed and achieve in a very practical way.

Visual Indigenous Art
This part of the program is essential to the personal development of the individual.  It allows them to experience a strong part of their culture and heritage and to express themselves through this medium.  The artwork can either be taken home or donated to the Beyond Billabong Foundation.

Computing
This introductory course focuses on the basic functions of Word, PowerPoint and the Internet.  It is paced at whatever standard the participants require and can be extended upon to include email, Youtube and Facebook for those interested.

Vehicle Operations
The young men learn to fully operate motorbikes and four wheel drive vehicles in a range of terrains and conditions.  This part of the program builds the confidence of the participants as they tackle new obstacles and encourage each other from the back seat of a troup carrier.

Social and Community Awareness
City orienteering, cooking classes, volunteer community programs, sexual health, health & nutrition, and a variety of other experiences and presentations provide the participants with an awareness of their contributions and interactions within society.

Certificate I Rural Operations

Accredited recognition towards Cert I Rural Operations is given for the competencies:

• RTE1101A         Support extensive livestock work
• RTE1104A         Support horse work
• BSBCMN107A  Operate a personal computer
• RTC2306A        Operate vehicles
• RTC2308A        Operate ride-on vehicles

Life skills

An individual must know who he or she is, what they want and what they are capable of. They must then determine which values, goals and principles guide their actions.

Learning about and applying life skills will help the individual:

• Know and understand themselves better
• Live life more consciously and deliberately
• Attain personal satisfaction and fulfilment

The program provides the opportunity for the strengthening and development of life skills.

Generic work skills – Employability

The development of generic work skills occurs through routines, task based activities that includes problem solving and team work as well as focusing on real life content. Evidence suggests that many of the generic attributes and skills described by employers as constituting “employability” are the same kinds of attributes and skills that equip the individuals to be effective community members and citizens which are congruent with Beyond Billabong’s overall mission.

Commonly cited employability skills include:

• Communication skills
• Learning how-to-learn skills
• Skills in using new technology in the workplace
• Problem solving and team work skills
• Attitude
• Commitment
• Personal development

Personal development is a process of improving of oneself. Personal development is something most of us do on a daily basis without even knowing it. It is a development of oneself and is sometimes referred to as self-development or personal growth.

Personal development is about improving oneself mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. All the particular areas of personal development are therefore aimed to improve the mind, the heart, the spirit and the body.

Self awareness

Self awareness includes recognition of ones personality, strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes. Developing self-awareness can help us to recognise when we are stressed, angry or under pressure. Self awareness is also a prerequisite for effective communication and interpersonal relations.

Making positive life choices

Everything in life is about choices. The sheer fact that participants agree to be involved with a program is an indication of a “positive life choice”. However, in order for participants to continue to make “better” life choices they need to be afforded the necessary skills to do so.

The skills required and quality of anyone’s choices is determined by:

• Knowledge
• Desires
• Thinking skills

Knowledge
determines the range of choice options available to a person, but

Desire
is the deciding factor in determining which options we choose. It provides the motivation to select and the will to execute the choices we make.

Thinking Skills
are the tools required for making good choices. Without well developed thinking skills, knowledge is difficult to acquire and desire impossible to control.