BOORT District School’s vocational students took over Boort District Health last Friday as a part of North Central LLEN’s Youth Take Over program. 
“The program aims to make students more employable and provide structured learning that allows them to pass their vocational major units and participate in something meaningful,” said NCLLEN’s team leader Jacinta Sutton. 
Students worked in various areas of the hospital over the last term and created a presentation on what happens in the area they worked in, ways young people can interact with the area and what recommendations they had thought of to improve the area. 
Year 11 students were tasked with examining signage around the hospital. They presented their redesigned signs at the launch for the hospital to consider implementing. 
Year 12 students reviewed the hospital’s communication strategies and presented an overview of the current strategies and provided suggestions on how these could be improved.
“It’s all about youth perspectives on industry and getting the students involved which then helps with workplace shortages as the students have had experience in different areas and can find what interests them,” Jacinta said. 
Vocational major teacher, Tom Bleicher said: “The Youth Take Over is extremely worthwhile for students and myself, the aim is to find a way to make literacy engaging and relevant.”
“It’s a really good experience for students at school. It is better than being in the classroom. It is more practical learning about stuff in the workplace that you didn’t know” said students Caitlyn Zanker and Lauren Gawne.
Jacinta said: “Boort District Health and Boort District School’s commitment to giving students opportunities to have hands-on, valuable workplace-based experience is fantastic. 
“Students have been able to build their confidence, create industry & community connections while learning transferrable skills to set them up for their future pathways.”
Youth Take Over program has been running for several years.