SpeakUP

About the program

SpeakUP is a short-term coaching program designed to support young people who experience challenges in a range of different areas such as developing social connections and participation in community activities. The program helps students build confidence, develop social skills, and learn strategies to navigate social situations, form friendships, and feel more engaged in their school community. It aims to support young people to problem solve and identify ways that they can work toward and achieve a goal.

Approach

The young person is supported to set a goal, break it down into smaller steps, and develop problem-solving skills to overcome challenges along the way. The goals which the young person can think of can be from a range of different areas such as a social connection goal or a goal to learn a new skill. For example, to ask a peer to engage with them in conversation, to ask someone to hang out on the weekend or to learn how to order food independently from the canteen. They are encouraged to understand that this is their own goal and not a goal set by anyone else. This is to encourage the ownership of their goal.

There are two formats that the program can be completed in. This program can be done as an individual one-on-one program. This program can also be done as a group program, especially in schools. The groups are comprised of young people who are of similar age. This format is designed to promote peer collaboration around problem solving, support social skill development in real-life school settings, and foster a sense of belonging among students.

The young person will then work on the steps they have set out between sessions. These steps will be reviewed at the following session and new steps can then be set out as well. Different person-centred tools are used with the young person to help them identify their goal, to reflect upon their progress and to track their progress for their goal as well. These will be completed during sessions with the support of the facilitator.

Parents, teachers and caregivers have an important role in supporting their young person to complete their steps in between sessions. Sometimes, the young person may require help from parents or caregivers to complete steps such as seeking permission and transportation. They can follow up with how their young person is going with their steps in between sessions to support them with reflecting upon how their steps are going as well as setting new ones.

Program provider

SpeakUP was developed by Lifestart and has been empowering young people to build skills and confidence for the past five years. The program will be delivered by one of Lifestart’s experienced SpeakUP facilitators, who will support students in achieving their personal social goals.

If the program is being completed as a group program at school, the facilitator will work closely with the school’s Student Support Officer, who will provide support during sessions and conduct one-on-one check-ins between sessions to help students apply their learning and stay on track with their goals.

Registration

If you and your young person are interested in participating in this program or would like to know more, please fill out the expression of interest form at the bottom of this page and a member of our team will be in contact with you.

Consent

If your young person is going to participate in this program, please fill out our SpeakUP consent form.