More than 100 Community Services students studying a range of courses, including Welfare and Youth work, converged on the Valla Beach Resort last week for their annual two day conference.

The welfare students from North Coast TAFE Campuses in Taree, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Macksville, Coffs Harbour, Grafton and Lismore, accompanied by 20 teachers, gathered for two days of learning and sharing.

This conference, organised by Coffs Harbour Education Campus students, is an Annual event, and has become a traditional gathering for students across North Coast TAFE, and an opportunity to hear from industry guest speakers and workshop a variety of local topical issues.

The conference attracted a wide range of representatives from local community and Government organisations as Guest Speakers, including Nambucca, Bellingen and Coffs Harbour Youth Workers, Aboriginal Workers and educators, Police Liaison Officer, Youth Conferencing experts and Men’s and Women’s Service representatives.
Keynote Speaker, Catherine Mahony, Deputy Director of the New South Wales Council of Social Service travelled from Sydney to give a presentation on changes to the Social Welfare Workers Union Award, and to participate in workshops during the two-day conference.

Head Teacher of Community Services, Liz Yazbek said, “Students and teachers participated in a number of workshop sessions including youth justice conferencing, and early intervention strategies in childhood, men’s, rural youth and Aboriginal issues”.

“It was great to see the enthusiasm of our students from across the North Coast, and hear ideas that were generated on local issues during the workshop sessions”.

“With comments from participants like: ‘enjoyed meeting new people and new ideas’, ‘an opportunity to meet like-minded people outside our own campus’, ‘it didn’t go long enough’ and ‘good tips and resources’, it shows the immense value our students gain from an intensive conference like this”, Liz added.