Media releases: 10 July 2020
Young people affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires emerged as some of the most vulnerable and at-risk in affected communities. In 2014, the Victorian Department of Human Services partnered with FRRR to develop a program to address some of the key challenges affecting young these young people.
Known as School and Beyond, the program was delivered from 2015 to 2020 across 11 LGA’s in 2009 bushfire-affected regions.
The aims included removing financial and psychological barriers to participation and completion of study, supporting pathways to vocational training and employment; and to support the cost of education and training costs.
In total, 43 grants saw $496,250 in funding go toward supporting education and/or mental health initiatives that benefited 2,589 youth in 2009 bushfire-affected areas.
Details of the funded projects are summarised below:
|
School and Beyond Project Summary |
Amount Awarded |
|---|---|
|
Bright & Myrtleford – North East Support and Action for Youth Inc | |
| F17 Hairdressing Enable further employment opportunities, through engagement in Certificate 3 in Hairdressing as a pathway to Hairdressing Apprenticeship training at local TAFE. | $1,406 |
| Laptop Purchase Increase school engagement through provision of laptop to support disadvantaged 14-year-old student. | $1,544 |
| SOAR Group Program Increase support for disengaged students, through delivery of an adventure-based program that aims to build leadership and resilience. | $10,630 |
| School Based Counselling Program Increase support for mental health issues through access to secondary school –based, generalist Youth Counselling Program for Bright P-12 and Marion College, Myrtleford. | $48,276 |
| School Based Counselling Program Increase access to mental health support through delivery of secondary school–based, generalist Youth Counselling Program for Bright P-12 and Marion College, Myrtleford. | $50,302 |
|
Drouin – Drouin Secondary College | |
| Work Ready Program Increase skills and confidence for students to remain engaged with secondary education, work towards a career and achieve employment on leaving Drouin Secondary College. | $23,340 |
|
Eaglehawk – Eaglehawk Secondary College | |
| Connected Circus Increase social and emotional competence through the delivery of the Connected Circus program to 30 male students attending Eaglehawk secondary College. | $9,000 |
| Tutoring and Technology Increase technology resources and tutoring support to expand supported and alternative learning programs for ‘at risk’ and disengaged youth. | $32,290 |
|
Kinglake Ranges – Ellimatta Inc | |
| WWC & CPR Individual Brokerage Increase support to gain employment for local youth, through upskilling through short courses in CPR and Working with Children. | $191 |
| Textbooks Increase access to educational resources for disadvantaged student studying bachelor’s degree of Dermal Sciences through purchase of textbooks. | $725 |
| Software & Laptop Increase independence, confidence and, engagement with education, through text to speech software and laptop for a VCE student with a learning disorder. | $1,497 |
| Tutoring 1 to 1 Increase in confidence and learning capacity, through private tutoring for a student with developmental delay. | $1,500 |
| Maths Tutoring with Drums Increase in self-esteem, school attendance and learning outcomes, through access to maths tutoring utilising drums for a student with ADHD. | $1,500 |
| VCE English Tutoring Increase student school attendance, self-reported self-esteem, and confidence, through access to qualified tutor to aid a Year 12 student in VCE English. | $1,500 |
| Bach Early Learning – Laptop Camera and Textbooks Increase access to technology and educational resources for disadvantaged student studying Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, through provision of a laptop, camera, and textbooks. | $1,500 |
| Tutoring and OT Sessions Improve short term emotional, social, and learning functioning through access to tutoring and occupational therapy to assist student management of PTSD, APD and anxiety. | $4,120 |
|
Morwell & Churchill – Kurnai College | |
| Textbooks for Senior Students Relieve financial barriers to participation through provision of Year 11 & 12 Textbooks for loan to VCE students. | $1,511 |
| Mental Health First Aid Training Increase awareness and support for mental health through delivery of Teen Mental Health First Aid training program to 180 Year 10 students and teachers. | $2,800 |
| We’re Learning Increase access to learning resources through access for VCE Students to participate in University delivered revision lectures in the various VCE subject areas during the September 2016 school holidays. | $5,320 |
| See the Future Build belief and aspiration levels among students through ‘aspirational’ posters influenced by past successful Kurnai College students. | $5,410 |
| Literacy, Numeracy, Life Skills Increase engagement with education through delivery of specialised literacy and numeracy support program for struggling students in years 7-10. | $6,000 |
| Bike Fleet Increase alternative avenues for students to engage and remain in education, through bicycles to resource flexible learning program. | $6,912 |
| Aspire Higher Improve aspiration and academic outcomes, through delivery of after school tutoring and mentoring project by university students from the Gippsland Campus of Federation University. | $8,125 |
| Aspire Even Higher Increase tertiary study aspirations and academic skills of year 11 and 12 VCE students attending Kurnai College, through the delivery of tutoring and mentoring sessions. | $8,125 |
| Boys to the Bush Build relationships and re-engage students in education through delivery of one-week, hands-on skills and team building activities at farming camp in rural NSW. | $9,600 |
| Hands on Learning Machinery Shop Increase subject choice for students attending the Flexible Learning Options program through building a shed to support the delivery of woodwork and construction activities. | $29,750 |
|
Traralgon – Traralgon College | |
| Traralgon College Relationships, Engagement and Resilience Project Increase resilience, school engagement and connections through funding participation at school camp for year eight students. | $22,074 |
|
Whittlesea – Whittlesea Secondary College | |
| Transport to Careers Expo 2018 Increase understanding of future learning opportunities, job seeking and work experience through transport for 60 VCAL students to attend Youth Employment Opportunities Fair and Expo 2018. | $308 |
| Year 7 & 8 Textbooks Increase school attendance, through provision of essential textbooks for students in year 7 and 8. | $500 |
| Transport to Year 9 Careers Expo 2018 Create stronger understanding of career pathways, jobs, apprenticeships, and traineeships through transport for 108 Year 9 students to Careers Expo at Assumption College | $616 |
| VET Engineering Students Excursion Create stronger understanding of career pathways in the engineering industry, through transport for 21 students studying Certificate II Pre-apprenticeship Engineering Studies, to attend a tour of two major engineering industries. | $713 |
| VET Hospitality Students Excursion Create stronger understanding of career pathways within the hospitality industry, through transport for 24 Whittlesea Secondary College students in Years 10 – 12 who are completing Certificate 11 in Kitchen Operations, to attend a behind the scenes tour of the Langham Hotel. | $888 |
| Transport to VCE Expo 2017 Increase understanding of future learning opportunities, job seeking and work experience for 160 Year 10 students and 9 staff from Whittlesea Secondary College through travel to state-wide VCE and Careers Expo. | $1,353 |
| Whittlesea Township Young People Engagement Increase student engagement through program designed to inform local youth services about the needs, issues, priorities, and ideas, of students in years 9 and 10. | $28,250 |
| Phoenix in Flight Increase student engagement and mental health support through delivery of therapeutic interventions and hands on learning program to at risk students at Whittlesea Secondary College. | $35,863 |
|
Yarra Valley – Cire Services Inc | |
| Youth Program Officer – ECOSS Yarra Valley Increase engagement with education through employment of a part-time Youth Program Officer to deliver skill building activities including the construction of a small sustainable building. | $19,500 |
| Horticulture Pathway Program Build resilience and vocational pathways for Year-10 students from Yarra Ranges Shire secondary schools through delivery of Certificate II in Horticulture. | $20,978 |
|
Yarram – Yarram Secondary College | |
| Excursion Transport – Careers Expo Increase awareness and provide more options for work experience through educational/ careers-based excursions for 65 students from years 8-10 to the Melbourne Zoo, Science Works, and the Harbour Town precinct. | $1,500 |
| Learn About Work: Yarram! Increase students’ career aspirations and connections to local employers through delivery of ‘industry taster’ event for 60 senior secondary students from Yarram Secondary School. This event will be run by Gippsland East Local Learning and Education Network and encompass visits to major industry employers, employment skill development and facilitation of networking with local businesses. | $4,000 |
| Yarram Ag Program Improve employment pathways for local youth and provide alternative opportunities to engage in education through expansion of agricultural studies area at Yarram Secondary College through the purchase of a cattle ramp, cattle crush, and vermin proof feed bin. | $7,378 |
| Yarram’s Yummy Yard Increase delivery of hands on activities that build wellbeing and resilience in the student and school community through the construction of a food garden at Yarram Secondary College. | $18,131 |
| Short Course Program Week Increase problem solving capacity and resilience through delivery of Short Courses Program. | $39,320 |
|
Yea – Yea High School | |
| Psychological support for improved student outcomes Increase support for senior students impacted by the 2009 bushfires through provision of face to face Psychologist sessions at Yea High School. | $22,000 |
| Total: | $496,246 |
