A vibrant and colourful mural painted by STEPS Skills for Education and Employment Program (SEE) Program participants has been unveiled in a special event in Cairns today.
The stunning 12m long mural was born from a desire to make learning fun and interesting and therefore participants applied the language, literacy, numeracy and digital skills learned in the SEE program to create the mural.
Cassie Stanley, Executive Manager of Education and Training for STEPS Group, said many of the participants in Cairns enjoyed art and creative projects and STEPS wanted to ensure they achieved their learning goals while being involved in a collaborative and uplifting project.
“The mural depicts the story of the reef to the rainforest and includes incredible detail of turtles, sharks, fish, and an eagle and cassowary, and was inspired by a dreamtime story from a local participant who wrote an inspiring piece for a recent STEPS literacy competition,” Ms Stanley said.
“The mural embodies the STEPS philosophy of creating a safe space from a social, emotional and learning perspective, and connects our participants to a sense of place, and to each other,” she said.
In an additional sign of diversity and inclusion, the centrepiece of the mural features the national flower from each of the SEE participants’ country of origin.
The participants took complete ownership of the mural and under the guidance and leadership of their trainers, the students used their critical thinking and creative skills to plan and create the mural.
Carmel Crouch, Managing Director of STEPS Group, said she was thrilled to see the mural and the incredible work achieved by the STEPS participants.
“The mural is a perfect of example of the unique way STEPS and our trainers are able to deliver literacy, numeracy, language and digital skills in a practical and meaningful way,” Ms Crouch said.
“I look forward to seeing the many hundreds of Cairns STEPS participants enjoy the mural and for it to bring hope and joy for many years to come,” she said.
Yvonne Pattinson OAM, Founder of Uniforms for Kids, will also attend the event to be presented with the latest supply of clothing SEE students in Cairns have made for children in remote communities.
SEE students used their newly formed skills to make custom clothing using the fabric from old police uniforms for Police Liaison Officers to donate to disadvantaged children in remote parts of Queensland and the Northern Territory.
“This special initiative with Uniforms for Kids is another example of the unique way that STEPS incorporates meaningful community projects into our education and training courses,” Ms Crouch said.
The STEPS Skills for Education and Employment Program (SEE) Program is a free course and is available for enrolments if the Cairns, Townsville, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast regions in Queensland, and Darwin, Katherine and Alice Springs in the Northern territory. With no waiting lists, prospective participants can enrol in a course today by visiting stepsgroup.com.au/SEE.
