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Top ten skills you can gain from our Step Up program

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Finishing school and not sure what to do next? Need some skills to feel more prepared for adulthood?

Novita’s Step Up is a program for young people living with disability designed to help you build your independence and Step Up into the next phase of life. From learning communication skills, finance tips and how to use public transport, our Step Up program prepares young people with disability to transition successfully into adulthood. 

But first, what is Step Up?

Step Up is a unique offering that supports young people, especially school leavers, to build their confidence, independence and communication skills. It is an extensive program that covers many important elements to successfully support young people as they reach adulthood

Who can join?

Young adults can join our Step Up program. We encourage school leavers, or those who are unsure what to go after they finish school, to come chat to us.

 

Quick tip: Read more about how teenagers with disability can gain vital skills to prepare for adulthood through our Step Up program.

What will I learn?

Step Up focuses on supporting young people to feel prepared, confident and happy for the next step after finishing school. This extensive program allows young people to learn important life skills in a friendly and inclusive environment where they can learn from experts and meet like-minded people. While learning practical skills including how to manage finances and how to stay safe online, you will also learn about community and culture and how they shape society

But why should I do it?

Don’t just take it from us, read about Thomas’s journey with Step Up and how participating in the program supported him with confidence and independence.

Thomas first came to Novita in 2021 as a very reserved 17-year-old. Romy, his mother, noticed that he was extremely depressed, stayed in his room, was isolated and completely disengaged from the community. 

Since attending Step Up Life Skills, Thomas has dramatically transformed! He is engaged in the community and has learned important skills in independence and confidence. Thomas is making an effort with his appearance and is going home with a smile to talk about his day. He has gone from not being able to attend school since Year 8 to having something on every day – away from the house! In 2023, Thomas was awarded Novita’s Sarah D’Cruz Youth Transition Achievement Award for a young person who has completed their education and successfully transitioned to appropriate post-school options. 

Read more about Thomas’s story here.

 

Now that you’ve learned about what Step Up has to offer, read about the ten skills you will learn throughout the course. Step Up is delivered through a range of modules that covers a variety of topics to cater to individual needs and goals.  

1. Socialisation  

Through Step Up, you will learn the importance of socialisation and how communicating and meeting new people can boost your confidence and independence. You will learn how to socialise in the community, the workplace and in a social setting. Participants will also learn about body language, online language and using these tools to stay safe in person and online. 

Topics covered include: 

  • Conversations and active listening, 
  • body language,  
  • staying safe online, 
  • problem solving 
  • self-awareness 
  • handling criticism 
  • and reflection. 

 

Quick tip: want to brush up on your communication and social skills? Read our article on the top 10 fun and easy card games to develop communication and social skills from home.

 

2. Finance and money skills  

The second part of the Step Up module will involve learning about finance and the effective handling of money – because let’s face it, saving money for the future is an important part of growing up. You will learn about how to budget and support your basic needs including food, accommodation and healthcare. If you haven’t thought about it before, you will also learn how to open a bank account, find out more about superannuation and tax to prepare for employment.  

Topics covered include: 

  • basic money skills (understanding needs verses wants), 
  • living expenses and how to set up a budget, 
  • getting your first job! How to set up superannuation and pay taxes, 
  • and saving – how to keep your money safe and save for the future. 

 

3. Road safety and public transport 

Getting on the roads – whether that’s behind the wheel or on public transport – can be scary. It’s important to learn skills to prevent injury and accidents so you can travel to and from places without too much hassle. In the third Step Up module, you will learn all about public transport and the value of road safety. This includes purchasing a ticket, reading a public transport schedule, and understanding how to get to your destination.  

Topics covered include:  

  • road safety theory (the dos and don’ts of being on the road), 
  • road safety training (including an RAA visit), 
  • and transport training – travelling by bus, train and tram. 

 

Quick tip: want to know more about travelling via public transport? Read our top tips for using public transport if you live with physical disability. 

 

4. Community

In this module, you will learn the value of community and why it’s important to be an active member. You will also learn about other communities, including Indigenous communities, and why they are important to acknowledge in our day-to-day lives.

Topics covered include:

  • Community,
  • culture,
  • indigenous cultures/artwork,
  • community involvement,
  • volunteering,
  • and voting.

 

Why is community so important? Dawt, who was awarded our Communication Achievement Award, realised the importance of community when she joined our Novita West Corydon Hub. Meeting new people and gaining skills in an inclusive environment, Dawt feels more confident and independent in her day-to-day life. Read more about her story here.

 

5. Recycling and environment  

Here, you will learn about the importance of keeping the earth clean – for you and the people that come after. You will learn about the process of recycling and how important it is for the environment. This course will encourage you to be more independent and learn important, positive life skills. 

Topics covered include: 

  • sustainability, 
  • the importance of recycling, 
  • energy efficiency, 
  • and waste management. 

 

6. Nutrition  

Eating well is the key to living well. Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle will help prevent issues for you in the future. In this module, you will learn about the importance of healthy eating, how to prepare healthy meals and how to budget for food in your weekly grocery shopping.  

Topics covered include: 

  • introduction to nutrition, 
  • healthy eating practices, 
  • accessibility of healthy food, 
  • and cooking healthy recipes. 

 

Quick tip: Keen to get in the kitchen? Read about how cooking can be beneficial to your therapy goals here. 

 

7. Having a healthy, happy body 

Maintaining both physical and mental health is important as we reach adulthood. In this course, you will learn about the benefits of exercise, as well as self-care to manage your mental health when things get tough. You will also learn about the importance of developing a positive outlook and positive self-esteem. Life can get tough sometimes – so you will also learn about where to get support and how to ask for help if you need it. 

Topics covered include: 

  • importance of exercise and physical health, 
  • the role of self-care and looking after your mental health, 
  • importance of sexual health and staying safe, 
  • and learning about body positivity. 

 

Quick tip: Read about the benefits of exercise for mental health here.

 

8. Personal presentation and hygiene 

After we finish school, it can be hard to know what is considered ‘professional’ when searching for a job. In this module, you will learn about the importance of personal hygiene to create a positive impression in both social and work settings. By keeping a tidy and polished appearance, you will feel confident and positive within yourself. 

Topics covered include: 

  • Personal presentation, 
  • personal hygiene, 
  • clothing, 
  • dressing for different occasions,  
  • and outings and events. 

 

9. Learning about the law 

Understanding your rights and the law of society is an important part of growing up and reaching adulthood. This module will support you to understand important topics including budget and NDIS entitlements – among many others. Learning about the law is a great skill to have before you begin your first job. 

Topics covered include: 

  • individual rights, 
  • the NDIS, 
  • the law, 
  • and work rights. 

 

Quick tip: Want to learn more about your rights when having a NDIS plan? Read more here.  

 

10. Learning how to… 

The last module of Step Up will require you to learn about important tasks and errands including how to make a booking and signing up for a gym membership. As a result of Step Up, you will be more confident and independent when performing everyday tasks.  

Topics covered include: 

  • How to make bookings, 
  • how to access services, 
  • planning a holiday, 
  • joining a gym and signing up for membership, 
  • how to apply for insurance, 
  • and how to apply for jobs. 

 

Quick tip: Looking for work? Read our top five tips when searching for a job while living with disability here 

Want to sign up to our Step Up program? For more information on the course, how to enrol and key dates, call us on 1300 668 482 or email [email protected]. Visit our Step Up page for more details.