A visual, person-centred planning tool helping students map a future they can see themselves in.
Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope (PATH) is a visual person-centred planning and goal-setting process that supports people at many different stages of life. In schools, PATH helps students look forward with clarity and confidence; for Year 10 students, it maps out steps aligned with Senior Education and Training (SET) planning, while for Year 11 and 12 students, it explores post-school pathways including further education and employment.
Our facilitators use an engaging visual mapping process to work collaboratively with students, educators and families, turning big, sometimes overwhelming questions about the future into a clear, achievable plan. PATH is especially effective for students navigating complex situations or where previous approaches haven’t quite worked. It helps students identify their key interests, build supportive networks around them, and take meaningful action while still at school, keeping them engaged, motivated, and moving forward.
What makes PATH unique?
Every PATH session is guided by two skilled facilitators working side by side:
- A process facilitator, who guides the conversation and encourages open, honest communication
- A graphic facilitator, who brings the discussion to life through visual elements and words, capturing ideas in a simple, easy-to-digest format
This dynamic, two-person approach makes planning interactive and genuinely enjoyable, but more importantly, it helps students truly connect with their own goals.
Throughout history and across cultures, drawings and imagery have been used to tell stories, share knowledge, and visualise journeys. It’s a universal language that transcends words and it’s at the heart of why PATH works so well.
Ideas that are difficult to put into words often flow easily through pictures, fostering deeper connection and clarity. By mapping dreams and aspirations visually, students can literally see the path to their goals, turning an abstract idea into something tangible, real, and within reach. PATH provides students with a clear direction, helping them stay engaged with their education and work towards meaningful goals. Doing a PATH helps turn “I think I might want to…” into “Here’s what I’m doing next.”
The impact extends beyond individual success; keeping students connected to school leads to stronger communities, fewer young people at risk, and more inspired, active contributors to society.
When students have a clear vision for their future and know that they are supported, they are more likely to stay motivated and make positive life choices.