Jump Start is redefining design thinking and social entrepreneurship education for youth, empowering the next generation to embrace risk, tackle problems and respond with enterprise solutions which create positive futures.

The program operates in both intensive (12 weeks) and semi-intensive modes which takes students on a journey of deep discovery. Students learn skills and tools which will benefit themselves and the community both now and into the future.

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Understanding

Student-led project approach creates strong understanding of self & surroundings and capability to confront personal, group and community challenges confidently.

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Design Thinking

Students learn skills, tools and processes to help them understand, rethink and tackle wicked problems. They learn how to prototype, test and iterate ideas in quick learning loops.

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Social Enterprise

Students apply their newly learnt design & business start up skills to respond with socially and environmentally responsible, lean enterprise solutions.

 

During jump start, students gain important design, business & life skills

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Research, Understand & Define Problems

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Prototype & Test in Rapid Learning Loops

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Launch Lean Social Enterprise Startups

 

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Practice Leadership and Team Work Skills

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Experience Success & Failure - Resilience

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Develop Morals & Ethics Personal Compass

Jump Start has taught me to look at problems as opportunities.
— Nick, 15 years old.

Project Team

Co-Founders

 
Tom-Allen-Design-Thinking-Educator

Tom Allen
Jump Start Lead and Director, Seven Positive

Tom Allen is a Design and Business Strategist with extensive experience in Europe and Australia. His work at Strategic Design Consultancy Seven Positive focusses on empowering people, organisations and enterprise to create positive futures. 

Tom is now embedded on a part time basis at PSSC and is also a Sessional Academic at Griffith University and QUT, passionately teaching Design and Business related subjects and the value of socially and environmentally responsible entrepreneurial activity.

 

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Adam Jefford
Manager, Asia Pacific Design Library

Adam Jefford is a lifelong learner who is a passionate advocate for student empowerment through inquiry-based learning. He is an innovative educator who believes in the efficacy of Design Thinking and who has a proven ability to effectively reconcile the competing demands of contemporary education whilst cultivating a futures-oriented perspective.

Adam is currently on secondment from his role as HOD, PSSC and is a Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Fellow, an Arts Queensland #CultureChampion and a City of Gold Coast Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) committee member.

 

Student Entrepreneurs

 

Participating students have shown themselves to be innovative thinkers and have engaged with enthusiasm and commitment. With their newly learnt skills in design thinking and entrepreneurship, they will no doubt be amongst Australia's future leaders.

 

2016 Design Excellence Student Cohort, Semi-Intensive Mode

2016 has seen Jump Start shift to semi-intensive delivery. This exciting change means we have been able to scale up the program and extend the reach to more students. It is now embedded within the Year 7 & 8 Design Excellence classes and delivered to over 85 students! Not only are students learning the content at a younger age (and therefore applying their new skills and tools earlier) but the 500% increase in numbers sees more future social entrepreneurs and innovators graduate and therefore greater positive impact to the wider community!

 

2016 Industry Partnership programs

A selection of Year 9 students are set to engage with industry to develop and manufacture a range of ethical water sports products and solutions made from plastic ocean waste. More info soon!

 

2015 Cohort, 12 Week Intensive Mode

 

Dyllan
Interested in IT, app development and cars.

Quinn
Interested in all things mechanical, motorised and making things.

Mikayla
Passionate about Business Management, Film and creating a better world for future generations.

Anau
Loves to know what makes things tick.

Nick
Enjoys creative thinking, design and photography.

Tamara
Interested in film and TV, construction and IT.

Lochlan
Interested in all things to do with design, IT and photography.

 

Rachel
Enjoys being involved in arts and creativity.

Aaron
Interested in IT and digital design.

Kyle
Digital Design, Business and IT are his passions.

Jaidyn
Interested in graphic design and photography.

Ricardo
Passionate about architecture, art and landscaping.

Andres
Enjoys being creative, designing and getting out of his comfort zone.

Benjamin
Passionate artist, optimist & designer working towards a better world.

Participating Staff

 

Staff engagement has allowed for great input from experienced teaching professionals, whilst also building the capacity of the teaching team to develop innovative design thinking and entrepreneurship approaches in education. 

 

 
Dwayne-Scicluna-Qld-Teacher
 

Dwayne Scicluna
Head of Department, Creative Industries

As HOD, Dwayne oversees general Jump Start activities, helping facilitate operations in the school.

 

Camilla White
Visual Art & Design

Maygen Schwarze
Visual Art & Design

Stephen Robinson
Industrial Technology & Design & Graphics

David Harman
Information Technology Systems

Jump Start Partners

 This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. Jump Start is gracious for the support from:

Jump Start Awards

Jump Start has been awarded a Good Design Award in the Service Design, Education Services category. The Awards have promoted excellence in design, innovation and creativity at a national and international level since 1958.

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