A Fully Funded Learning Engagement Support Program For Neurodivergent Youth Starts In Bowral In May To Combat Social Isolation + Learning Disengagement.
Creating connection and community for Highlands teens and tweens in a quiet, calm, supportive and safe environment is what The Loading Zone is all about.
We totally got that when we chatted with co-founder, Margie Tully when The Loading Zone first opened last year, and have been checking in to see what new and awesome programs Margie and the team have been working on.
And there’s a new program that starts in May that looks fantastic and totally necessary because it’s been a bumpy few years for everyone, for sure, but especially for our young Highlanders and our wonderfully neurodivergent youth at that.
Many families, schools and community organisations like The Loading Zone are seeing an increase in school disengagement and an increase in home schooling or distance education.
As part of the NSW Government’s Children and Young People Wellbeing Recovery Initiative, The Loading Zone has been granted the funds to run a Supported Learning Engagement Program in Bowral for those teens that are disengaged from school.
So good that there’s other local options available, right?
We spoke to Margie about the program.
Who it’s for, who will benefit, how it all happens and how to get involved.
Here’s what she had to say…..
1 :: Margie, this is a wonderful extension of what The Loading Zone already does. Tell us who the Supported Learning Engagement Program is for?
The program supports neurodivergent young people who are struggling with school anxiety and might attend school part time, or neurodivergent students who have totally disengaged from school and are now being home schooled or enrolled in distance education.
2 :: The Loading Zone environment is the perfect place to deliver this sort of program, isn’t it?
Well yes, the space has been specifically designed for teens with autism, anxiety or other learning challenges.
It is a safe, calm space which meets the needs of those kids.
3 :: When does the program start and how long does it run for?
The program starts in early May and runs for eight weeks.
There are two sessions per week with a student enrolling in one of those sessions weekly for the duration of the program.
Each session is two hours long and they work in a small group environment.
There’s never more than four to eight students per session and importantly, it’s facilitated by a trained special needs teacher.
4 :: And what does a session look like for the students? What would they be doing in those two hours every week?
Students will bring their own work in and our facilitator will then guide them to complete it.
That could look like help with organisation of their work, support to start a task, complete a task or guidance around uploading or submitting work.
It may be providing help with how to research or reflect on what they’re learning and why.
Because the program takes place in The Loading Zone, it gives the students a chance to take breaks, or reboot the brain or body in our specially designed spaces.
They can hang out with the other students for a quick game of Uno, or use the chill out room for a brain break and some quiet, reset time.
You can bring snacks and any sensory supports you need too.
One of the best things about the small group, the specially designed spaces and having the trained facilitator is that each student can receive individual support, both with their school work and with what their minds and bodies need at any time during the session.
All those adjustments that are needed can be incorporated into the sessions.
We fit in with what the students need, not the other way around.
5 :: The program also allows students to connect with others.
That’s right. Most of the students have had some tough school experiences which has negatively impacted their self-esteem, damaged their social networks and caused them to withdraw from not only school but also other close, social and family connections.
The program gives them a chance to socialise and connect with like-minded peers and teenagers who perhaps understand more than most what they’re going through.
That’s a vital part of their growth and rebuilding self-confidence.
6 :: Which leads us nicely into the goals of the program. We love that there are really clear short and long term goals.
Firstly, we’re looking to help the students re-engage with community.
That means leaving the house, meeting new people, providing opportunities for social connections with more than just their family at home.
A goal could be to help them re-engage with school which may be supporting them with a back to school plan.
We’re also looking at more ways to engage with more people outside the home. The Loading Zone is wonderfully set up for that.
And in the long term, the goal is to see an increase in self-esteem and an ability to self-advocate, engagement in learning and wanting to learn, increased ability to self-learn and self-discover and we’d love to see them with a friendship or friendships that support that.
7 :: It sounds amazing, Margie. How should families reach out to you and what’s involved in signing up for the Supported Learning Engagement Program?
One of the most important things we do [and it’s intrinsic to the success of the program] is get a clear picture of what the current situation is for the student.
We ask for individual learning and socialisation goals prior to starting the program. This allows the facilitator and the student to work together on those goals.
We also ask for parents and carers to provide feedback throughout the program. This is also important as we can incorporate changes if we need to, or know that we’re on the right track.
If this sounds like something that would support you as a disengaged student or your child [if you’re a parent/carer reading this right now] the best way to contact me is via email info@theloadingzone.com.au and we can talk through the program and enrolment from there.
8 :: And it’s important to note, this program is fully funded.
Absolutely. There is no cost to the student or their family at all.
The program is fully funded by NSW Government – Department of Regional NSW,
We have our own long term goal and that is to apply for further grants to continue this program for as long as we can to help as many local disengaged teenagers as possible.
Amazing…thanks Margie! And thank you to The Loading Zone team for all they do.
The Loading Zone is at Level 1, 58 Station Street in Bowral. Everyone is welcome to come along beforehand and get familiar with the place too.
Email Margie info@theloadinzone.com.au for more information about the Disengaged Student Program and head to The Loading Zone website for more information about gaming nights, therapy sessions and social skills programs or to just get a feel for what they’re all about!
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