The Western Bulldogs Fresh Program received a special visit this week, when Premier Ted Baillieu stopped in as part of a tour of the western region.

The Fresh Program is a community education service aimed at young people who are experiencing difficulties with mainstream education and face the risk of becoming disconnected from education and training.

Auspiced by Victoria University, Fresh provides students with learning opportunities that look to develop personal and social competencies and provide access to on-going pathways in education, training and employment.

On hand to guide the Premier through the facilities were Marissa Geraghty and Kimberley Smith, both first year students at Fresh.

16-year old Marissa, who shares a common interest with the Premier (both are Geelong supporters), told Premier Baillieu that she left her mainstream high school because she felt like she wasn’t getting the support she needed.  She told Mr Baillieu that that best thing about Fresh was the friends she’d made and the teachers in the Program.

Kimberley also left her mainstream education in year nine after experiencing bullying.  She said since coming to Fresh, her school work was back on track and she was a lot happier and had made a lot of new and lifelong friends not only with the students, but with the teachers as well.

Recognised in Victoria as one of the best alternative education services, Fresh offers youth aged 15 to 20 another chance to achieve senior secondary school leaving certificates in a flexible, supportive environment.

And the advice to the girls from the Premier, “Take one step at a time and you can do whatever you like.”  Very sound advice from the man with Victoria’s #1 job.

Over 400 students have been through the Fresh Program since its inception in 2004. The service is proudly supported by Olex Australia, Macquarie Sports, Qenos, Marstel Terminals, Odyssey House Victoria, Leighton Contractors, Village Cinemas Sunshine, the Lions Club of Footscray and Victoria Police.