Neil Porter Legacy

16/10/2026

Robots, gyms and marketing: a big week of real-world learning at Warrnambool College 🚀

♻️🤖 Year 10 Systems Engineering
Students went behind the scenes at South West Healthcare’s Regional Logistics and Distribution Centre and are-able Enterprise’s container deposit centre. They saw how 27 tonnes of laundry a month moves from sorting to folding, watched a robot-run pick and pack system in action, and learnt how can-sorting machines work and what happens when they break down. It’s perfect inspiration for their next challenge: designing and building their own electro-mechanical system to solve a materials handling problem.

🏋️ Year 12 VET Sport and Recreation
At Momentum Fitness Warrnambool, Scott showed students how health and safety is managed in a working gym, took them on a tour of the facility, and shared the many roles and pathways in the fitness industry. It was a great real-world link to their unit on Workplace Health and Safety in the Sporting Environment.

📱 Year 11 Business Management
Fresh from a SAC on marketing using a McDonald’s Australia case study, students heard from local business owners Tara and Nat of The Social Connection. They shared case studies, including their own business, and talked about choosing the right channel, setting goals and measuring what matters. Then students had a go themselves, picking a business, defining its target market and planning how to reach it.

A huge thank you to Paul, Shane, Jason, Scott, Tara and Nat for opening your doors and sharing your expertise, and to teachers Dan Jolly, Amanda Sutton and Tom Hull.

NPL Connected Learning at Warrnambool College is proudly supported by CMV Truck and Bus and the Hugh D.T. Williamson Foundation.

08/10/2026

It takes a whole community to help boys thrive 💙

NPL is always happy to share great events that help young people and here's another one. Join facilitator Joel Hines for the Thriving Boys South West Victoria tour. These sessions are for parents, educators, coaches, mentors and community members who want to better understand teenage boys and learn practical ways to support and connect with them.

📍 Warrnambool Community Session
Wednesday 21 October | 6:30–8:00 pm
Warrnambool Library

📍 Port Fairy Community Session
Thursday 22 October | 6:30–8:00 pm
Port Fairy Surf Lifesaving Club

👨‍👦 Dad’s Night in Warrnambool
Friday 23 October | 5:30–8:00 pm
Warrnambool Football Netball Club
For dads or another male role model and boys aged 12–14. Enjoy activities, food and time to connect.

All sessions are free, thanks to the sponsorship of Community Bank Port Fairy & District. Registration is required.

Find event details and register:
https://collections.humanitix.com/thriving-boys-south-west-victoria-tour -title

Please share this with anyone who might be interested!

Community Bank Port Fairy & District

Many of the boys in our communities are navigating a world that is noisier, more complex, and more contradictory than anything previous generations faced. Yet much of what impacts them remains hidden, even from the adults who know them best. This series of events in South West Victoria is aimed at p...

05/10/2026

More opportunities ahead through Pathway to Placements! 🙌

Following our successful Brauer College pilot, we’re expanding with generous support from the DemoDairy Foundation and Energy.

🌱 DemoDairy Foundation will support 6–8 students from one school over two days, helping them connect with dairy-related businesses.

🤝 Energy will support 6–8 students from one school in Corangamite Shire Council over two days, exploring placement opportunities across any trade or industry that matches their interests.

The program helps students build confidence, prepare for the workplace and approach local employers to secure meaningful placements.

These photos are from our Brauer pilot, featuring Jason Bidmade with students visiting AreAble’s Big R’s Shed, and Seif at Lobster World.

Thank you to our sponsors and local employers for helping young people take their next steps towards work!

17/09/2026

On 14 September, Warrnambool SWTAFE students took part in two valuable Real World Learning programs where they explored future employment, independent living, and practical topics as they start thinking about their next steps in young adulthood.

The first session was all about exploring employment pathways at are-able. From 10:00–10:45 am, the SWTAFE students visited are-able to meet with Emily and Zoe to discuss the transition from school to work program they have set up there. The conversation explored support for young people leaving school and looking for employment as well as helping students understand where they can turn to for guidance as they begin their working lives.

Session two was back in the classroom where Wally Steere spoke about all things real-estate, specifically young tenants renting. From 11:00 am–12:00 pm, Wally Steere visited SWTAFE to share his knowledge of real estate and the rental process. He spoke about how young people can approach renting for the first time and what to consider if they are planning to move out in the next few years, whether that means finding their own space locally or moving away for university.

These sessions connected classroom learning with decisions students may face in the years ahead. From finding work to finding a place to call home, understanding the processes and available support is an important step towards greater independence.

A big thank you to Emily and Zoe at are-able, and to Wally Steere from Christine Steere Property, for sharing their time and knowledge in helping Warrnambool SWTAFE students prepare for what is to come next.

Also a huge thank you to SWTAFE for generously supporting the SWTAFE Senior Secondary Careers Program.



South West TAFE
are-able
Christine Steere Property

16/09/2026

Today, Warrnambool College’s Year 7 SEAL students enjoyed a fantastic behind-the-scenes visit to ACE Radio, gaining a real insight into the world of radio, media and broadcasting.

A big thank you to Lachi and Lofty for the great tour and to the other ACE Radio staff who jumped in to chat with the students about their roles and experiences. The session was highly interactive, with students asking plenty of questions and getting a genuine feel for the many different careers involved in the industry.

The best sign of a successful excursion? The students were still talking about it all the way back to college!

Thanks to the whole ACE Radio team for making the students feel so welcome and for providing another valuable real-world learning experience.

Also a huge thank you to Hugh D.T. Williamson Foundation and CMV Truck & Bus for their ongoing support of the Warrnambool College Pilot Program.



ACE Radio
Coast FM
CMV Truck & Bus
Hugh D.T. Williamson Foundation

14/09/2026

Real outcomes. Real workplaces. Real pathways. 🙌
We’re incredibly proud of the results from our recent NPL Pathway to Placements program with Brauer College . Every Tuesday over four weeks, 11 VCE Vocational Major students who had not yet secured a Structured Workplace Learning placement were supported to build confidence, explore local industries and, most importantly, take practical steps towards a placement.

The results speak for themselves:
* 6 students secured an SWL placement
* 1 student secured paid holiday employment, with the opportunity to continue
* 4 students made meaningful progress, approaching employers, handing out resumes and completing job applications
Every student recorded a positive outcome!

This is what NPL Pathway to Placements is all about. Not simply talking about work in a classroom, but helping young people get out into workplaces, build connections, practise the skills they’ve learned and take their next step.
A huge thank you to Brauer College and the local employers who opened their doors and gave these young people an opportunity. Huge thanks also to Norton Motor Group Warrnambool who generously allowed NPL to use one of their vans throughout the program.
When schools, employers and community work together, great things happen for young people.

10/09/2026

The inaugural Humans & Habitat: Environmental Forum brought together 155 students and young people from seven schools for a day of practical workshops, presentations, music and environmental learning.
Students worked with environmental, education, industry and community partners to develop and deliver workshops for their peers. Activities explored renewable energy, water filtration, wetlands rehabilitation, bird boxes, native grasses, hydroponics, shearwater protection, bent-wing bats and sustainable jewellery.
Thanks to Terang College for leading the forum and to the students and teachers from Kardinia International College, St James’ Primary School, St Joseph’s College, Warrnambool College , Brauer College , Clontarf Foundation - Warrnambool, Academy, and Port Fairy Consolidated School.
We’re also incredibly grateful to Acciona AU & NZ, Wannon Water, Zoos Victoria, University of Melbourne, Regional ResourceSmart Schools of Victoria, Cooinda Recycling, Tutt Environmental Solutions, Landcare, Friends of Griffith Island, Green Print Projects, Beach Energy, and The Old Alaska for sharing their time, knowledge and enthusiasm.

A huge thank you to our sponsors, Lochard Energy and Corangamite Shire Council, whose generous support enabled NPL to contribute to this opportunity, and to Beyond the Bell Great South Coast for supporting the day.

Neil Porter Legacy was proud to help connect schools with employer and community partners and help Terang College deliver the event. Congratulations to everyone who helped make the forum such an engaging experience for local students!
📷 Photos taken by Terang College SRC students.

08/09/2026

We’re thrilled to share that Beach Energy will continue its valued partnership with the Neil Porter Legacy for another year!
Beach Energy has been one of NPL’s major supporters from our early years, helping us connect young people with workplaces, industry experts and meaningful career experiences across our region.
Its continued support will help us deliver hands-on career education throughout the Corangamite Shire, including our Real-World Learning Programs, Maths & Science @ Work and the South West Careers Expo.
We’re also incredibly grateful for the way the Beach Energy team gets involved—sharing their knowledge with students, participating in our events and welcoming young people into their workplaces.
A huge thank you to Kieran, Lou, Sharon and the entire Beach Energy team for your continued generosity, involvement and belief in our work. We love working with you and look forward to another fantastic year together!

03/09/2026

This week’s Thursday Thank you goes to James and Laurisa from Sinclair Wilson ! 🙌👏
Running a small not-for-profit comes with plenty of financial and accounting tasks so we’re very grateful to have James and Laurisa in our corner. They generously give their time and expertise to help us stay on top of everything, answer all of our questions, and are always willing to give us a hand.
Having Laurisa and James supporting NPL makes a huge difference to our small team as it allows us to spend more of our time focused on the work we’re here to do.
Thanks James, Laurisa and the Sinclair Wilson team for your ongoing support of NPL!

02/09/2026

At NPL, we're not about choosing a young person's pathway for them. We want to provide the support, connections and confidence so they can take the next step themselves. And that’s what makes Zeth’s story such a great example of what we’re trying to achieve.
Through the VLINC program NPL ran with Brauer College, Zeth explored workplaces, built his résumé and prepared for interviews. He then took the initiative and contacted PJ Glass and secured an apprenticeship.

At NPL, we don’t sit students in a classroom and talk about careers. We get them into workplaces, meeting employers and applying what they’ve learned in real-world settings. And we don’t take a one-size-fits-all program and roll it out from school to school. We work with each school to understand what their students need, then build experiences and programs around those needs.

We’re extremely proud of Zeth and grateful to Brauer College, PJ Glass - Warrnambool and the many local employers and partners who give their time to support young people. This is what connecting education, industry and young people can achieve.

Thanks to the Warrnambool Standard for sharing Zeth’s story and Beyond the Bell Great South Coast whose generous support made the program possible.