What our clients think!

We've included this section so you can see what Students, Parents, Teachers and Career advisers think about our approach and accuracy. For obvious privacy reasons, we have chosen to omit student's names. We have each and every original feedback document on hand (in the student's cases - their own handwriting) so they are real!



Motivational Workshop Feedback


 

I found that you've known me my whole life. You said I'm a person who has always got something left to give; you said sound engineering before I even said it as my personal career choice. You're deadest accurate. I'd be more than happy to have another chance to talk to you again. Nobody, not even myself, has been able to describe who I am as a person but I feel you've exactly explained myself. Thank you very much.

 

The interview with Frank was really good and also true. I'd recommend it to anybody. Frank has the ability to bring out the best in anybody . Even if the person isn't down, depressed or not motivated. He can make them feel better about themselves. I think everybody should participate in this program. Thank you Frank, I will take everything you gave me and use it to succeed.

       
 

I found that everything you said about me was accurate. I learnt a lot about myself that I had never discovered before and realised they were true. There was a lot you said about my peers that were true as well and it was surprising how good and right everything you said was. You have encouraged me in different ways and to watch out for holding back creativity. I think you have opened my eyes and the eyes of the many people in this room. Thank you.

 

The interview was very motivating , accurate and interesting. It was actually scary how accurate it was. The interview was definitely a huge help and has given me a better view on life and what careers to pursue.

 

       
 

Excellent workshop, taught valuable skills and helped us understand ourselves, our skills and our assets. Taught what we would be good at in the workforce. Highly recommend to others. Very personal and interesting. Loved it!

 

I really loved this workshop . I thought it was extremely helpful and it was great hearing about myself and my class mates. Mr. Vella was very interesting and an awesome person to give feedback. Thank you very much.

       
 

The workshop pinpointed the aspects of my nature perfectly. I think I may have realised new things about myself . The positive feedback on my selected career path motivated me to aspire to carry out that career.

 

The workshop was very helpful and I thought Mr. Vella was spot on in his assessment of me . He is a good speaker and assessor of people. Overall, definitely a five star job!!!

       
 

This was an extremely eye-opening experience . It has confirmed a lot of things that have been wondering through my mind for the last few years. It has revived feelings I used to have now that I have had them reinstated. It is one of the last steps that I've needed to follow my dreams and achieve my goals. Thank you very much.

 

I thought the workshop itself was very helpful. It explored and covered many ideas and information. The assessment itself was very, very accurate.

 

       
 

Very helpful and accurate. He spoke the words of my mind .

 

 

To have someone understand and read you like a book is truly great. Giving you reassurance towards your future and opening new doors towards your dreams. I truly appreciated my time with him. He tells you straight and he talks without lies and BS.

       
 

Real accurate, has the knowledge to know people. I have a new motivation to pursue my own goal without others stopping me . Great guy, will recommend him to others. An insightful experience . It was very beneficial.

 

The things mentioned were very accurate . Frank mentioned things that people that have know me for many years say about me and what they think I' be good at. I felt very comfortable talking to him and he is very open about things and makes you feel like you are talking to mate.

       
 

The workshop was very helpful and was spot on. He read me like a book. It was very informative. It gave me the confidence to pursue my career in IT.

 

This really opened my eyes to other areas in the workplace and paths I could take in life.

       
 

The information was 100% on the money! You are a very talented and inspirational person. Thanks.

 

The workshop was helpful and very informative. It was very worthwhile and very useful in terms of information about me and also very accurate. I will use the information I have been given very truthfully and with great attention.

       
 

Yes this workshop was really effective upon me. It made me realise my true self and natural ability. I feel that now I have more motivation within myself. Frank, you have helped me realise what I must do to achieve success.

 

The workshop was very helpful because it has given me a great insight. The information was very interesting and all the ideas conveyed were spot on. The feedback I was given was terrific and I would recommend him to all my peers.

       
 

Overall this workshop was excellent, I rate it 10/10.

 

I learnt a lot and he was helpful. He gave the best advices and he told me a lot of new stuff about myself.

       
 

He helped me out a lot to find my strengths and weaknesses. He also told me that I'll be great in the future; he got me on the head of the nail.

 

It was fantastic. Very accurate and helpful. Confirmed my previous beliefs and gave me much more confidence within myself.

       
 

The information was very helpful and accurate. It was informative and interesting. This will make a difference for me.

 

The feedback was completely accurate and was helpful because it cleared things up.

       
 

The ideas have inspired me .

 

I really thought Sir was accurate with a lot of what he was describing of my persona. His insights on me and my future were very helpful and in a way it was inspiring. Sir was spot on with my characteristics which helps me identify my weak spots and how I can find better ways to approach them.

       
 

I found the talk very insightful , and it revealed inner truths about what kind of person I would like to be and what would make me happy. He was understanding about issues that will affect my job decision and gave some great advice that will make me rethink my career options.

 

I liked the interview because he was straight to the point and that he told the truth only. He opened my eyes to the world in a different way and view. I believe that I can turn my life around and don't only focus on sport but focus on my school work because I can do it.

       
 

He was able to pinpoint my areas of expertise very accurately. The advice that was provided was very helpful and I will definitely take it on board.

 

Had help on deciding my future. Really appreciated your help and ideas.

       
 

I found the workshop was very useful in helping me gain more confidence in my abilities and allowed me to understand how some of my qualities can affect the career that I choose.

 

The workshop was very helpful. It allowed me to strengthen my interest through a very inspiring talk with me.

       
 

I do feel very motivated. I feel that I was understood and I especially enjoyed someone else's view on myself.

 

Frank was precise in describing my attitudes, ways of thinking and my approach towards work and life. Some of the things he mentioned about me I had to think about – he knew things about me that I didn't realise they existed. Would love to get an evaluation in a few years time. Thank you for the great opportunity.

       
 

I found the interview to be extremely beneficial . It gave me confirmation of personal traits I had already suspected I had as well as bringing other personal traits to the forefront of my realisation. It has also helped me decide which direction I need/want to take in order to put me in the most productive and fulfilling career paths.

 

I found the workshop extremely helpful. All the feedback given to me was true . I learnt that I can succeed in life and become what I want to become if I focus. I also learnt that I can achieve all my goals after the feedback given as it has helped me as to what I need to do in life.

       
 

I really enjoyed the workshop and the techniques I learnt in it, I didn't really picture myself as a leader although my peers did agree with it. I learnt a lot about myself and found it really helpful.

 

I found the workshop very helpful and informative. All aspects were covered clearly and you made it enjoyable and interesting . Thank you for the session and help, it was greatly appreciated.

       
 

I was so surprised that you were able to read me, right down to the finest details . You have really helped me figure out what I want to do in life, giving me an “overview' on what to expect really helps. You were also right about school. I really can't find the motivation to think so structurally like they want you to think at school. I'm also glad to know that I will be able to achieve great things at university, because I wasn't sure if I wanted to go to uni, or if it was the right thing for me, so thank you, I really appreciate it. J.H. Talented student with great proven capacity but struggling with motivation.

 

I came into this not expecting any serious advice; probably generalised assumptions or vague suggestions. The following half-hour however provided me with detailed and accurate description of aspects of myself and how these aspects could carry into the workforce; things I could consider and strengths I should play to.

       
 

This activity was a good insight into who I am as a person. You definitely nailed the person I am and who I want to be. The skills you showed us were very informative and will help us in the future. Thank you so much for coming here today and taking out time to show us what we can achieve and how to improve who we are to better improve ourselves. A G.

 

I really like this seminar. I found the info very accurate and reliable and something that I can take away with me and use in LIFE. The man said that I liked practical work and I think into detail which is spot on. I know now to work in a job that I am passionate about, that entails practical work, that has small groups of people and that I can relate to overall, this was a great seminar! R.B.

       
 

Overall it was illuminating, stimulating and pleasant experience and one I would recommend to anyone, whether they know what career they wish to pursue or not . H.D.

 

I don't usually like people telling me about me but you helped me and you were very accurate, amazingly accurate . Thanks. J. S.

       
  Everything said was completely spot on and basically read me like a book. 100% true . F. Z.  

Thanks for coming to our school. Really actually did get some true facts about me and I was quite surprised, but there were some things you did forget, but that's fine. J. O.

       
 

WOW– you're excellent at this. Love it! Learnt heaps and got me considering more options. YOU'RE AWESOME! Come back! You were mad accurate. I wish my parents were here to hear. K.A.

 

The accurateness of Francis was almost creepy! I was impressed with how well he targeted who I am. The jobs and target areas I could focus on and seek out as a future were really cool and interesting. B.R.

       
 

What you described about me was scarily accurate, especially saying how I like to be with people, but really enjoy being alone. You've confirmed my creative side and that helps. M.D.

 

I found him very engaging and everything he said was correct about me. He gave me some solidarity on what I wanted to do. M.H.

       
 

I am quite grateful for the time Francis has spent in this analysis. It was effective, helpful and quite close to the heart, very accurate. Shall take this advice and thoughts, along with the report with me and use them in life. J.K.

 

I think that it was really impressive how you recognised immediately how we're like. I never thought about my skills and everything so close before. Thanks a lot! J.H.

       
 

I found today very informative. I found all of Francis's advice on me was very accurate. It greatly helped . I.N.

  Every detail that you gave me was spot on . Everything in there was what I needed to hear. A.Y.
       
 

Amazing that he knew that much about everyone . Spot on with most everything he told me. Learnt a lot more about me. M.S.

 



Student Assessment Feedback

 

"Sitting here really made me think. You really understood me, knew who I was and how I felt, what I liked. This will make me think better in what I want to do, what door I will open. I will look back to what we spoke about and really think and then go for what is right. I thought you wouldn't understand me but sitting here listening to you has really changed what I think of myself."

 

"This has been really helpful because he has explained all the qualities that I know I have and the qualities I didn't know. It is a good feeling to be told the things that I need to work on, while also being praised on the things I'm good at. Being told by an outside person that I need to work on time management is really good help, because now I know the things I need to do to achieve my best marks. I will take on board the advice that I have been given and use it to better myself."

     
 

"The vocational test done by Mr. Vella was very insightful. It enabled me to break free from my shell of confusion and indecisiveness of my future and realise my true potential and mental power. He showed me how to accept my inner-self and embrace the creative nature that lay deep within me. It was amazing; at one point, I thought he was psychic. Thank You. T.M."

 

"The vocational testing was an experience that taught me plenty. He is a man class, style and experience in perceiving the skill and opportunities of a young man. The choices in my mind were jumbled, and with a clearer overview of my skills, I narrowed the choices. An experience anyone will be lucky to attain. A.S."

     
  "My opinion on this is very excellent. You answered everything before I even asked any questions, you gave me advice that encouraged me. You read me like a book and everything was right. The encouragement you gave me I took to heart and will always keep me going. Overall, you were excellent and brilliant. Thank you heaps."   "It made me think of what more I could achieve and made me open up my brain and think about ways I could achieve in things that I struggle with. I was shocked when Frank knew I was a good leader because someone before has told me the same thing and I am often captain of such things. Thank you!"
     
  "I think that he read me right and he knew exactly what I wanted to do. All the information that he told me I needed to develop and who I am and the jobs he thought were natural for me are the ones I want to do. It was very helpful to me and he is right."   "I feel that my true colours really do shine. I feel proud of myself and am looking forward to what I can become. I also feel like, even though I am still at school, it's like I have already succeeded. This has made me feel successful."
     
  "This interview has helped me so much it has given me more confidence; it has helped me think more about what I'm going to do, but most of all it has given me the motivation to achieve anything I want to do."   "I think that yes it was accurate and yes I need to look at my priorities. Thank you for that extra confidence booster. I will take on all this advice to enhance my future. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
     
  "Frank was very helpful to me; he has made me think on what I do right. He taught me to keep on track and don't leave things to the last minute, which I found really helpful as I never really thought about it. It was good to speak to him."   "I found it helpful because people give me positive comments instead of negative ones which is good in the long run. This helps you to express yourself more easily."
     
  "It was very helpful because it has shown me what my path could be and what it could lead to if I make the choices. I found that Frank was very accurate and it shocked me at how many things were said correctly about me."   "It was good. It was very helpful and I found it easy to understand. I found it more helpful then asking some of my teachers about it. I understand what was said and it was simple to understand."
     
 

"I think today has been very helpful, this man today has had a big impact on my desire in life such as staying in year 11/12."

 

"Frank really encouraged me to participate with what I want to do with my life. He really speaks from the heart. A kind man."

       
 

I think that Francis did a terrific job describing me and my class mates. He got me spot on and his information was very informative and useful.

 

I believe that every assessment Francis made was accurate to every student in my class . He exposed (in a good way) many traits of people and their strengths and weaknesses. He offered great advice on what we can do and was always optimistic, never bad mouthing anyone!! Very Good!!

       
 

Francis was spot on with the feedback he gave me. He advised to keep up with what I am doing which is what I want to do. He also said I'm gaining more knowledge and I feel this is true. Thank you.

 

It was accurate; I got a lot of information about myself and what I can do either as a job or career. It helped me get more of an idea of what I could do, and how to work on certain skills. This will definitely help me for the future.

       
 

This assessment was accurate and helpful. It helped me to get a perspective from a third party on what would be a good career path. It was interesting and great – Thanks!

 

It was very accurate. It made me realise new things about myself.

       
 

I found it very interesting. Gave me some excellent advice for the future and helped me discover what I wanted to do in the future and what is best for me.

 

I like the idea that you focus more on our strengths than weaknesses. You were very accurate and all the information was true.

       
 

The assessment was very interesting and informative and it helped me appreciate myself more. The workshop helped me understand how to align my talents into a career. I will now consider my career path more deeply.

 

The workshop was extremely helpful. It was ‘spot on', very accurate. It showed and explained in detail various attributes that I have.

       
 

The feedback was accurate, showed more about me, even what's on the inside. It gave me a definite on what I want to be and my career goals.

 

I think that you gave me a very accurate summary of myself and I think that you were correct about what I want to do in life . Thanks for your time in talking with me about my future.

       
 

I found today very helpful, it was interesting because Francis got me spot on and even guided me in a better direction and the feedback he gave was very accurate.

 

Extremely helpful . Assured me that there are many options available which made me more confident. I wasn't really able to value some of my traits but now I can see what people see is great about me. Thank you for taking the time to do this – even going overtime!



Professional Feedback


"Dear Francis
Now that we are over the rush of choosing subjects, we wanted to drop you a note to say thank you for your time and insight and accommodating us at such short notice. We appreciate all the hard work you have put in and it helped to affirm all doubts around what subjects to pick. I will tell you that you make one very fine skipper at the helm of the ship you command."

Our regards - K and L

• • •

"Francis has worked extensively across school systems in terms of working with careers and skills development of young people. He has a passion for youth and developing the potential in young men and women with whom he works.  

Francis is a man who thinks outside the square and is capable of driving his initiatives to the point of implementation. He is a wonderful communicator who thinks big ideas are well grounded in many years of experience.  

Francis is a man of great integrity and was both professional and energising in his involvement with St Patrick's. Our applications would not have been successful without the network of contacts that Francis has been able to build or without his enthusiastic, logical, and creative input."

Alan Moran – Director, St Patrick's Business College

• • •

"Mr Vella is an incredible knowledgeable gentleman, with a unique yet accurate method of developing vocational assessments specific to groups and individuals. He is able to work very closely with the school, staff members and students alike, within often very tight budgets, to create, undertake and deliver invaluable information to us as clients."

St John Bosco College – VET and Careers Coordinator

• • •

"I have just completed a thorough and lengthy debrief with Francis in regards to the YouthStart program. I was very impressed with the accuracy of his reporting, his ability to pick out character traits and the strengths and weaknesses of the students without speaking with them. I was impressed by Francis Vella's rationale and thorough preparation of his programs."

Port Hacking High School - Careers Adviser

• • •

"Francis,
Thank you so much for the very comprehensive analysis. I have had some preliminary discussions with HT Teaching and Learning over the report and she was very impressed. I want to do justice to the insights and advice contained. Thank you for the great effort you are making for our girls and for the huge amount of information and evidence, you are providing."

BGHS - Careers Adviser

• • •

"We cannot speak highly enough about the YouthStart Natural Talent program and its accuracy.

We consulted with both Francis and Garrath from YouthStart to look to see how we could enhance and offer a fuller response for our Year 10 students with regard to better planning of their career pathways and for their upcoming subject selection.  

YouthStart's approach to our needs and service was remarkable. They met with us to develop an understanding of the dynamics of the school and students. They then developed a tailored program for the 191 students which we implemented with great success.  

What really stood out for us was YouthStart's unique and reliable approach to uncovering a student's Natural Talent. Their written feedback on each of the students, especially as they had not met with them prior, was very revealing and extremely accurate. Additionally, the subjects for consideration and learning strategies that YouthStart presented for each student revealed tremendous insights and directions not only for the teaching faculty but more importantly for the students and their parents.  

We would highly recommend the option of post assessment one-to-one interviews with the students. It creates a tremendous catalyst for the student to hear an external group identify what is great within them and provides a positive motivation for the students.  

The written report on each student was perfect. YouthStart's use of some great mindmaps and their easy to follow and understand feedback and layout was also extremely useful for the students and faculty."  

Past Careers Adviser SGHS and past Deputy Principal of a Boys High

• • •

As the Careers Adviser and VET Coordinator at Sir Joseph Banks High School I have worked closely with Francis Vella from Youthstart over the past two to three years. The program will enter its third year at the school in 2010 and to date it has assisted two Yr 10 cohorts and a Yr 12, in excess of two hundred students so far.

Francis has ensured that the program delivered meets the needs of our students and has adapted the questionnaire to reflect this need. He has also made himself readily available to meet and counsel our students and to explain to staff the long-term structural advantages of aligning teaching practices to student needs using Youthstart.

Students have always been astonished with the accuracy of the Youthstart analysis and have been keen to listen to the advice provided by Francis in the individual debriefs that the program provides. Student word of mouth testimonials for Francis and the debriefs that he provided encouraged some of the more reticent students to seek out his assistance, which he willingly provided. The documentation provided to students also enables them the opportunity to reflect in the longer term about their career pathway planning.

Francis' enthusiasm and dedication to ensuring that our students discover their natural talents and pursue employment and training outcomes that will enhance their lives is to be recommended.

As a Career Adviser, I appreciated the support that Francis has given students of our school and would readily recommend the program to others.

Linda Downey, Careers Adviser

• • •

 

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