Pathways to Possibilities Education and Employment Programs
The Education and Employment Pathway Program at Catherine
Education The program includes both group learning and individual support. Group courses are delivered in small, supportive settings, while one-on- one meetings provide personalised guidance to help women explore and prepare for education, employment, or volunteering pathways. In 2024–2025, three subjects were delivered: Live Your Best Life & Plan for Your Future, Art, and Music. These 10-week programs, funded by Skills SA Adult Community Education (ACE), are offered four times a year. Each course is underpinned by the Australian Core Skills Framework Foundation Skills, with units of competency selected to enhance women’s capabilities and strengths. This foundation supports participation in employment, further education, volunteering, and community life. Alongside core literacy development, women also strengthen their soft skills — such as group work, critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, boundary-setting, and communication. These skills are essential for workplace
success and personal growth. The courses also help women identify transferable skills and character strengths, encouraging future planning and goal setting. Confidence and self- esteem are central to recovery, and guest speakers, often past participants, return to inspire and motivate, showing that change is possible. Individual support is available to all women at Catherine House through meetings with the Education and Employment Officer. These sessions provide space to explore future goals and plan for progression in education, employment, or volunteering. The Education and Employment Officer also delivers the Live Your Best Life & Plan for Your Future course, using the same trauma-informed and feminist approach. Through the Catherine House Education Fund, women can access financial support for accredited training such as First Aid, White Card, Traffic Management, and contributions toward TAFE SA or university fees. Laptops are also available through our donated laptops program.
House is a holistic service designed to support women in their recovery journey. The program supports women to build skills, confidence, self-worth, and pathways to employment, ultimately supporting long-term financial independence and security. Developed for women who have experienced homelessness, trauma, domestic and family violence, or gender-based violence, the program offers life-changing opportunities grounded in an understanding of the barriers women face. It is built on a trauma-informed and feminist framework that prioritises safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. At its heart, the program is not only about education and employment — it’s about healing, connection, and hope.
Additionally, the Kym Adey–Catherine House Scholarship supports a woman pursuing university studies at UniSA, making higher education more accessible.
Zoe Adey, Skye Adey and Sharon Stewart, our Education and Employment Officer
44 | Catherine House
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