Co-designing a specialised alternative learning program (PIVOT) for Ipswich Community Youth Service

Status

Completed September 2025

Client

Ipswich Community Youth Service (ICYS) (funded by the Department of Education)

Background

The Department of Education allocated funding to community services in four regional areas across Queensland to develop a new specialised alternative learning program for young people who are disengaged from mainstream schooling and in contact with the youth justice system. ICYS was selected as one of the services to receive the funding and establish the program. To support implementation of the program, Beacon Strategies were engaged by ICYS to lead the consultation and co-design activities and to produce the final program design and capability plan.

Approach

We worked closely with ICYS, the Department of Education, and a Project Advisory Group of key stakeholders to deliver a comprehensive consultation and design process. This included:

• Regular meetings with the Project Advisory Group. The Project Advisory Group included representatives from ICYS, Department of Education, Youth Justice, schools, and local community organisations.

• Individual discovery interviews with the Project Advisory Group members to explore potential challenges and benefits of the program.

• Stakeholder interviews with 25 organisations across youth justice, education, health, and community services to identify potential issues and benefits of the program.

• Online survey of 48 additional stakeholders to capture broader insights.

• Co-design interviews and working sessions with young people to understand their priorities and aspirations of the program.

• Four co-design working sessions with ICYS staff and external key stakeholders to refine the practical details of program delivery.   

Findings from consultation and co-design process were thematically analysed and directly embedded into the program design and staff capability plan.

Outcome

The co-design and consultation process led to the development of a Consultation Report and Program Design and Staff Capability Plan for the ICYS PIVOT Program. Key features include:

• ICYS Pivot Program Framework - the framework has been created to guide and inform how the program will run and blends the pedagogy of youth work and pedagogy of education.

• A clear referral process led jointly by ICYS and the Department of Education to ensure the program is best suited to the individual’s needs.

• An intake process that builds trust, confidence and a warm welcome for the young person.

• A learning model that will focus on foundational literacy, numeracy, cultural education, vocational pathways, and life skills.

• Holistic support that includes case management, health and wellbeing checks, family engagement, cultural mentoring, and access to housing and other supports.

• A transition process embedded into the program at the beginning of the intake to ensure the young person is supported and understands the goals they can achieve as part of the transition out from the Program.

• Governance processes that include youth advisory structures, accountability panel, and continuous improvement processes.

• Staffing includes a mix of educators, case managers, cultural leads, and youth workers to provide low student to staff ratios.

• A capability plan that outlines the capability domains and descriptions as well as a comprehensive training plan to ensure the capabilities will be met.

The PIVOT Program framework supports re-engagement in education, improved wellbeing, and positive future pathways for young people who would otherwise be excluded from conventional schooling.

Link to our vision – “a more impactful social purpose sector”

This project reflects our vision by embedding lived experience into program design, supporting vulnerable young people to access education, and build meaningful futures. By enabling ICYS and the Department of Education to deliver a responsive and community-driven program, the work contributes to long-term change in the youth and education sectors.

We support government and community organisations to design programs that are co-designed, inclusive, and effective for those most at risk. Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/beacon-strategies/