Training highlight with Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning (SAIL) Program
The Learning Beyond the Bell team offers free training for coordinators and volunteers working in Learning Support Programs. Special events, workshops and networking sessions for coordinators are also scheduled throughout the year. We sat down with the Sudanese Australian Learning Program’s recent ‘Positive Engagement and Wellbeing’ training to understand their experience.
What tailored training/CMY training program did you complete and what motivated you to request/complete this particular training?
Positive Engagement and Wellbeing. We had been having growing difficulties with engagement during our sessions since Covid and had seen an increase in depression and stress amongst students and families. Like many OSHLSPs we’ve lost a lot of volunteers and have been trying to manage unbalanced student to tutor ratios, which also makes engagement difficult and tutoring sometimes stressful. We spoke with Michaela about tailoring a training session to help equip our tutors with the tools to better engage and support our students.
What did you find the most beneficial/impactful aspect of the training?
It was really beneficial that we could have a one-on-one meeting with Michaela to discuss the demographic of our group, our particular needs and challenges and what would and wouldn’t work for us before undertaking the training session. It was also really great that she came to our campus, after one of our sessions to make it as easy as possible for our volunteer tutors to attend. The session itself was quite impactful as Michaela used the strategies on us, as a way to teach them. So it was very active learning, but we could also experience as students how these strategies improve engagement.
What was the highlight of the training?
Watching how much fun the tutors had doing it, and that a lot of them had a chance to get to know each other better.
How have you implemented the knowledge you gained at the training in you program?
We have seen tutors using some of the activities and strategies from the workshop, taking the students outside, mindfulness activities etc. We’ve also seen positive shift most weeks in engagement.
Why would you recommend this training to other programs?
The training can be tailored to suit your students AND tutors. It’s free! And we gained a lot of practical knowledge and tips.
CMY trainers can come to your organisation or local community venue, or selected modules can be delivered online via Zoom.
See the full list of available modules here.
Contact training@cmy.net.au to book a session.