Youth empowerment: How young people can shape their own programs and policies

Building equality starts with understanding what enables it. Across Australia, National Apprentice Employment Network Group Training Organisations are leading the way in creating apprenticeship systems where everyone can thrive. Through the RISE Foundations pillar, led by project partner Women in Adult & Vocational Education, we’re working with GTOs to understand the conditions that shape equality and inclusion in their workplaces. Over recent months, we’ve: ✩ Connected with more than 25 GTOs across every state and territory ✩ Heard how culture, policy and practice can open, or close, opportunities ✩ Listened to the lived experience of all parts of the GTO system This is about building the evidence that builds change, together. We have interviewed leaders, held online workshops with GTOs and are now co-designing with the industry in face to face workshops across Australia. With the Together We RISE Gender Equality Survey about to launch, GTOs are setting the groundwork for fairer workplaces, better support for apprentices, and long-term change across the sector 📊 Explore the highlights below ⬇️ #TogetherWeRise #BuildingWomensCareers #GenderEquality #Apprenticeships #VocationalEducation #SystemicChange #EvidenceForEquity Kit McMahon Elena Leddra Ciara Kirby Dianne Dayhew Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

We Should Be Doing More To Equalise The Playing Field.. Over the last decade, we’ve seen a positive shift. More women are stepping into the trades, earning apprenticeships, mastering skills, and shaping the future of the industry. But progress isn’t just about numbers, it’s about narrative. Platforms like ours have a responsibility not just to celebrate female apprentices and tradies, but to equalise the playing field. That means highlighting them for what they are, a talented apprentice, a skilled tradesperson, a respected craftsperson, who just happens to be female. Because true equality isn’t achieved by emphasising gender, it’s achieved when gender no longer defines the headline. The question is: Has the industry evolved enough to make women want to join, or are we still focusing too much on proving they can? #WomenInTrades #EqualityInTrades #ApprenticeshipsMatter #BreakingBarriers #TradeTalks #InsightPodcast #ApprenticeLife #SkilledTrades

It’s Women in Tech Week! Our flagship TechTrack digital apprenticeship programme creates real pathways into digital roles across government. Sophie is one of our very first TechTrack apprentices — now a software developer at the Ministry of Justice UK after a successful career in teaching. Her journey shows what’s possible when we open up opportunities and rethink who gets to build the future of technology. Through TechTrack and other programmes, the Government Digital Service aims to bring 2,000 new digital apprentices into Whitehall departments by 2030 -  driving greater diversity, inclusion, and gender equality in the tech workforce. Find out more about TechTrack: https://lnkd.in/eX4BzsZC ✨ Empowering new voices. Opening new doors. Shaping the future of digital government. #WomenInTech #TechTrack #DigitalApprenticeships #DiversityInTech #CareerChange #GDS

Breaking Barriers in Vocational Education - https://lnkd.in/d4CXx-se 💪🔧💡 Women are still underrepresented in many VET and STEM fields - but change is happening fast! 🚀 From Ireland’s “Fact, Faces, Futures” campaign inspiring female apprentices to Austria’s “Digital Pioneers” training young women in coding, and Germany’s “Cliché-free Initiative” challenging stereotypes - Europe is taking bold steps toward gender balance. 🌍✨ Equality in education isn’t just fair - it fuels innovation, opportunity, and stronger communities. Let’s build a future where passion, not gender, drives every career choice. 💫 #FutureWomen #GenderEquality #STEM #VET #WomenInTech #Inclusion #EmpowerHer

The conversation around inclusion in education is always evolving, so we need to too. Before the summer, we launched the Inclusion Index to help schools track the issues most impacting inclusion in education. But inclusion is a moving target and A LOT has changed since then. The next Inclusion Index lands in November, tracking shifts in the top 10 issues affecting both students and staff. Watch this space to find out what’s changed, what’s working better and what still needs work. While you wait for it to drop, catch up on the first edition and/or dive into our ’26,000 Voices’ research now 👉 https://lnkd.in/edaysZcR #InclusionIndex #EducationForAll #BelongingInEducation #Inclusion #InclusiveEducation

✨ New on EPALE! The GUIDE project presents its final article: “Beyond Stereotypes: The Complete Toolkit for Gender-Sensitive Career Guidance.” After three years of collaboration, GUIDE proudly delivers a complete set of tested tools and resources supporting gender-sensitive, inclusive career guidance across Europe. Explore the e-learning course, the co-creation model, and the new GSCG Toolkit — all designed to empower professionals to challenge stereotypes and promote equity in education and work. 👉 Read the full article on EPALE: https://lnkd.in/dMNa3Hv8 #GUIDEproject #ErasmusPlus #GenderEquality #CareerGuidance #EPALE #AdultLearning #Inclusion 

Growing up in rural Maine, Elizabeth Ford ’27 witnessed how isolation and lack of community resources could lead young people — especially LGBTQ+ youth — toward substance use. This summer, through Brandeis’ World of Work fellowship, she worked with Healthy Acadia to study how small-town Pride festivals can strengthen community bonds and support mental health. Her work combines research, data analysis, and community organizing — all with a focus on helping people feel seen, supported, and connected. “Having someone there to support you and let you know that there are people in this community who care about you — that really makes a difference.” Read more about Elizabeth’s impact and how Brandeis students are using their internships to create change.: https://bit.ly/3KXKXqR * * * Image Description: Portrait of Elizabeth Ford '27 at her internship at Healthy Acadia in Ellsworth, ME.

Transforming Inclusive Education: Key Insights from the 2025 Disability-20 Engagements The 2025 South African Disability-20 Inclusive Education workstream has synthesised powerful lived experiences from 307 members and participants since April 2025, revealing critical gaps between policy and practice. The Reality Check: "We've got a beautiful policy document, but it's not being enacted." This statement captures the implementation crisis facing inclusive education despite strong commitments like White Paper 6 (2001). Key Barriers Identified: -Underprepared educators facing 60+ learners per class -Limited assistive devices and inaccessible curricula -Weak disability-disaggregated data systems -Systemic exclusion of qualified persons with disabilities from teaching roles Game-Changing Recommendations: ✅ Mandate compulsory inclusive pedagogy in teacher training ✅ Adopt Universal Design for Learning (UDL) standards across all platforms ✅ Create National Inclusive Education Data Registry with intersectional markers ✅ Ring-fence inclusive education budgets as long-term economic investment ✅ Build inclusive pathways for persons with disabilities into the teaching profession Heartfelt Gratitude: Profound thanks to workstream lead Max Sefotho, the co-leads, and all 307 contributors who shared their lived experiences. Special recognition to our exceptional researchers, Erna van der Westhuizen (PhD), Dr Siva Moodley, and Letitia Pienaar, for their tireless work in developing this representative articulation of participants' voices. This isn't just about education—it's about equity, dignity, and unlocking human potential. The time for action is now. Andrew Hofmeyr Therina Wentzel Lubabalo Mbeki Alex Msitshana (She/Her) #Disability20 #InclusiveEducation #DisabilityRights #UniversalDesignForLearning #UDL #AccessibilityMatters #EducationForAll #DisabilityInclusion #SouthAfrica #G20 #DisabilityJustice #InclusivePedagogy #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs #DisabilityAwareness #EducationEquity #SocialInclusion #HumanRights #SDG4 #QualityEducation #TransformEducation #NCPD

Free Online Human Rights Courses by Amnesty International 2025–2026 https://lnkd.in/giDYmYyY Empower yourself with knowledge and become a global advocate for human rights — all from the comfort of your home! 🌍📚 Amnesty International is offering a series of free online human rights courses for 2025–2026 through its global learning platform, the Amnesty Human Rights Academy. These courses are designed for students, activists, educators, and professionals who want to deepen their understanding of human rights and advocacy. Course Highlights: 100% Free and Online – Learn anytime, anywhere. Certificates of Completion – Issued by Amnesty International. Languages: Available in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic. Flexible Learning – Self-paced modules suitable for all experience levels. Popular Courses Include: Human Rights: The Basics Campaigning for Change Freedom of Expression and Activism in the Digital Age Gender Equality and Women’s Rights Climate Justice and Human Rights Create a free account. Choose your preferred course and start learning instantly. 📢 Enroll now and join millions worldwide taking action for justice, freedom, and equality. #AmnestyInternational #HumanRightsCourses #FreeOnlineCourses #AmnestyAcademy #EducationForAll #SocialJustice #Activism #GlobalOpportunities #OnlineLearning #HumanRightsEducation

Intersectionality in Education; Intersectionality helps us see that inequality is rarely caused by one single factor. Each child’s experience is shaped by overlapping aspects of identity such as language, race, gender, neurotype, culture, family background, and ability. In education, this means that barriers to learning often stack up. A child learning in an additional language may also be neurodivergent or come from a community that feels unheard. When these layers intersect, so too do the challenges. As educators, our role is to notice these layers and respond with empathy and intention by questioning how systems, routines, and expectations might unintentionally widen gaps. Creating truly inclusive classrooms means looking beyond the visible and considering how multiple identities shape belonging, voice, and access to opportunity. Credit: Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw for defining and introducing the concept of intersectionality.#Intersectionality #Inclusion #EquityInEducation #Diversity #Belonging #InclusiveTeaching #ReflectivePractice #EducationWithHeart