How is the program run at schools?
Schools run the Community Action Program as part of the core curriculum or as an elective.

As part of the core curriculum
This program has been run with students from years eight to twelve as part of the core curriculum. Some of the subjects this program has been run in are SOSE, the Advance program, VCAL, pastoral care programs or religious education. The program has been run from anywhere between five to twenty weeks. The number of allocated periods varies from school to school. It is generally between three to five periods a week. Generally, two periods a week, students are out on their Community Action Placement; theory is done in the remaining periods. Teachers can use material from the Community Action Kit to guide them through the theory sessions.

As an elective
Some schools run this program as a term or semester long elective at years nine and ten. Generally 5 periods a week are allocated to this elective. Two or three consecutive periods are used to visit the agency and two or three periods are used as theory. Teachers can use material from the Community Action Kit to guide them through the theory sessions.

Community Action Placements
Students make their own way to and from their Community Action placement. As a result, most schools tend to allocate the Community Action Placement periods straight after lunch. Structuring the placements in this way enables students to leave for their placement at lunchtime and to spend as much time as possible at their placement. Students leave their placement at the same time they would leave school.

The Red Cross Community Action Resource Kit contains:
  - Teacher’s Guide
  - 5 Teaching Units (see additional information inside)
  - Student Diary (sample)
  - Certificate of Participation (sample)
  - Agency Guide (sample)
  - Red Cross Community Action Video

How much does it cost?
A membership fee of $70 per annum (GST inclusive) includes:
  - Resource Kit (in the first year of membership)
  - Up to 25 complimentary student diaries each year (extra diaries can be purchased at $1 each)
  - Red Cross publications throughout the year (e.g. schools newsletter, Australian Red Cross Youth International Project)
  - Access to guest speakers
  - Support from Red Cross Youth & Education Services staff
  - Red Cross Community Action certificates for all participating students; while participating in the program students are considered to be Red Cross Volunteers. 

Red Cross Community Action at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School (Penleigh Campus)

Teacher Profile

Name: Jenine Riley The Red Cross Community Action Program is in its 17th year at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar (Penleigh campus).

The school offers this program to the Year 9 students as it is hoped that through their participation, students will learn to play an active and responsible role in their community; learn to communicate and cooperate with people; gain respect from the community; develop a sense of responsibility, confidence and achievement and attain a positive attitude towards volunteering. They may also gain insights that will influence their choice of career.

Students attend Community Action for the duration of a term on Wednesday afternoons for two hours. Before going out on placements, the students are introduced to the program through a preparation session. This is considered most important for the development of skills that may be necessary in dealing with situations that the students may encounter during their placement. It is hoped that this preparation enables students to go into their Community Action placement ready to get the most out of their experience and to give their best.

Witnessing the satisfaction students get from learning new skills is one of the highlights of the program. Seeing the sense of responsibility that they develop is also wonderful.

The advice I give to teachers running this program is encourage students to use the Red Cross Community Action diaries as this gives you an excellent insight into how the students are performing at their placements. Also, as Community Action Coordinator there is a lot of planning which takes place before the start of each placement. It is of vital importance for the smooth running of the program that planning starts early.

Finally, as a teacher, try to be involved as much as you can. It is such a rewarding learning experience for yourself and the students alike. My students love it when I go to visit them and they can show off the new skills that they have learnt.

 Student Profile

Names: Ruth & Jess Year: 9 Placement: Brunswick Special Development School

We chose to volunteer at the Brunswick Special Development school because neither of us had had much experience working with disabled children and we thought it would be a good experience.

Before the first visit we both felt nervous and a little bit intimidated because we didn’t know what to expect but at the same time we were excited.  After the first visit we were still a bit hesitant about what we should do in the classroom, but we had fun and we were looking forward to going back.

By our last visit our attitudes had completely changed. We were more confident when communicating with the students. We even ran the class for a few minutes while the teacher was busy! That was great!

During our placements, we taught the children how to brush their teeth, brush their hair, cut their nails and how to behave and communicate with the other students and teachers. We also helped out in musical therapy classes.

One of our biggest achievements was getting a smile out of students we thought never noticed us, or students who always seemed intimidated by our presence in the classroom. Some of the harder times were holding the children’s concentration for the lesson and trying to get them to do what you were trying to teach them.

It was good to feel as though we were making a difference to the students’ day. By the end of the nine weeks the students were smiling and jumping up and down as soon as we entered the room. The didn’t want us to leave!

To anyone considering taking part in Community Action, we would say, give it a go. You have nothing to lose. You might find it hard for the first few weeks it but by the end, you won’t want to leave!

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