I CAN Imagination Club®
For students with ‘big imaginations’!
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
– Albert Einstein
Our primary school mentoring program, ‘I CAN Imagination Club®’ is for students who have learning differences and/or experience social anxiety. It is non-Autism specific program to engage a broad range of students.
Participants do not need a diagnosis of any sort in order to join and benefit from the I CAN Imagination Club®. They are invited to take part because of their ‘big imaginations’. In contrast to our high school program, which is Autism-specific, mentors in our I CAN Imagination Club® program don’t explicitly discuss Autism. I CAN Imagination Club® offers a safe, engaging environment where students are encouraged to recognise and celebrate their own strengths. Each session is designed to support students in developing peer connectedness, optimism, belonging and confidence.
Inter-school programs are also available in which multiple schools come together from the same region to form a group. This option works particularly well in regional areas. If you are a Victorian Government School click here.
Got questions? Write to us at: mentoring@icannetwork.com.au
WHERE
I CAN Imagination Club® can be implemented in any school setting. Schools decide, in conversation with I CAN staff, on an appropriate space to run the program within the school (e.g classroom or library), or online.
HOW
Participants for the program are determined by each school’s teacher supervisor. The program involves 8 – 16 group mentoring sessions which run weekly or fortnightly for 1 hour.
WHO
Two I CAN Mentors facilitate each session. All I CAN staff hold valid Working with Children’s Checks or Blue Cards. Each session must be supervised by a school staff member.
PRIMARY SCHOOL MODULES
Emotional Literacy
Students are given practical advice on how to best navigate their personal emotional landscapes. Emotional literacy is explored through the I CAN Imagination Club® mascot: ‘Cam the Chameleon’.
Listening & compromise
Students build their skills in listening and compromise through group activities, social engagement and personal growth.
Communication & public speaking
Students are encouraged to share what specific areas of communication they find challenging as well as helpful strategies for social interactions and public speaking.
TEAMWORK
Students get to know each other through identifying the necessary components of an effective team and the value of what each individual has to offer.
Team projects
Students work together on creative projects which can be exhibited at the program’s end of year celebration.
how to access i can schools
What we offer: We offer weekly one hour group mentoring sessions for up to 16 Autistic students in both primary and high schools. Our packages also include educational talks for students and parents as well as professional development workshops for school staff.
I CAN Schools Online: We also offer an online version of our successful face-to-face program.
Areas currently served: Greater Melbourne, South West Victoria, Goulburn Murray Victoria, *Our areas are constantly expanding so please don’t hesitate to contact us if you aren’t within the areas listed.
How to access: Interested schools can write to us at mentoring@icannetwork.com.au for program details, prices and packages. For families who are keen to bring our program to their young person’s school, we recommend starting with hosting an I CAN presenter on campus for an introductory presentation. We can also provide tailored templates and information for parents/carers to use for approaching school leadership who might not be familiar with our programs.
