Young mums tell Sunrise they’re Aim’n High

Media coverage - Sunrise, Channel 7, 24 November

Young mothers from Mission Australia’s innovative Aim’n High program, which helps teenage mums to complete their schooling, have appeared on morning TV to share their inspirational stories. Watch video on Sunrise.

Provided in collaboration with Hallam Senior Secondary College and the South East Local Learning and Employment Network, Aim’n High is a response to the high number of teenage mums dropping out of school in Melbourne’s south-east.

Beginning in mid 2011, Aim’n High is helping 13 young women to maintain their studies ‘off campus’ while also offering support for other issues (such as family conflict, parenting skills) and providing high-quality childcare in a supportive learning environment.

Thanks to the support they’ve received from Aim’n High, 12 participants have plans to re-enter the main school campus next year and there are plans to enrol another 20 students in the program in 2012.

The young mums attend classes at Mission Australia’s Early Learning Centre in Doveton, where their kids receive childcare at the same site. Today Shianne, who was 16 when she had her baby, told Sunrise that Aim’n high has helped her to overcome isolation and made her realise there is a range of support out there.

“Aim’n High has improved things a lot as I now have something to do rather then being home all day,” she said about the program. “I can relate well to all the girls here because I don’t feel like an outsider as my other friends don’t have children.”

Her classmate Bethany said the program has given her the motivation to finish her VCE and study midwifery at university. Bethany added that she’s grown in confidence considering that she never though she’d go to back to school after having her baby.

Another young mum who was filmed for the Sunrise segment said that if she can complete the program she can do anything, and added that she was excited for the future for her and her child.

How does it work?
The mums attend the Aim’ High program for 6.5 hours per day, four days a week and receive assistance, including:

• Provision of VCE classes
• Homework support
• Parental education and support
• Visiting maternal and child health service
• Guidance on personal development
• A supported transition program to enable students to rejoin the mainstream secondary school community.

An important part of Aim’n High’s success is that attendance is voluntary. Participants are there because they see the value in keeping up with their education to secure a job and to become positive role models for their children. Aim'n High is now taking enrolments.

For more information call the South East Youth Connections Program on 1800 335 106.