Organisation helps youth
23-03-2009
WHEN Jackie Robertson strings five very important letters together, her eyes ignite and her passion becomes contagious.
This month, Mrs Robertson and her team will celebrate the tenth birthday of the Southern Downs Industry and Education Association (better known as
the SDIEA) - the pride and joy of the men and women who comprise it.
The organisation has worked for every candle on its celebratory cake, which will represent so much more than a double-figured anniversary.
The SDIEA incorporated on March 9, 1999 and a couple of weeks later, the now-manager Mrs Robertson started work, armed with a pre-loved laptop.
She was determined to set up and promote Vocational Education and Training (VET) in local schools and ultimately give young people control over
their future careers.
Sharon Keogh and the foundation board established the SDIEA in 1998 before operations began in 1999 at the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE campus.
“I moved to Warwick in 1989 and I saw there weren't a lot of opportunities for young people,” Mrs Robertson said.
“I really wanted to make sure my boys were going through school being given every opportunity available.”
Mrs Robertson started work as the workplace co-ordinator and soon realised the potential of the SDIEA.
“After about six months I realised this organisation had the capacity to grow but it couldn't do so without funding.”
She was right.
In its first year of operation, the SDIEA had a total budget of $28,000. This year it has a budget of $765,000.
With more than 27 times the funds, the team is able to ensure it maintains an excellent relationship with local businesses and industry.
Mrs Robertson said an important aspect of the SDIEA's work was its relationship with young people.
“A lot of Year 11 and 12 students come to us saying they don't know what they want to do when they graduate.
“First of all, we acknowledge that and tell them it's ok, then we look at their skills, interests, abilities and aspirations and design a pathway
for them to get there, whether it be VET, university or work-based training.”
The idea is to open up a world of career options to teens and it is thanks to the work of the SDIEA that hundreds of Rose City youths have a vision for their future.
In 2002, the SDIEA relocated to Warwick State High School and the next year, the organisation expanded by employing its second staff member and in 2005,
its third.
The current team consists of seven staff members, one based in Goondiwindi.
The members work with 13 to 19 year olds in the sphere of VET, youth support, Get Set For Work and the Warwick Youth Links project.
When asked about her vision for the SDIEA in its infancy, Mrs Robertson said she placed her faith in her team.
“I knew we had the capacity to do it,” she said.
“We needed good board members, a shared passion and a shared vision.
“We are a highly-skilled and multi-skilled team and we enjoy a great relationship with business and industry.”
Mrs Robertson wanted to thank the past and present staff and board members and the local businesses and industry for their hard work and dedication
to the SDIEA.
“They're the people who have made this happen,” she said. “I'm really proud of what we've done.
“Sometimes our work is tough, but even in the hard weeks I never lose faith in our community's young people.”