Young people in South Australia who have dropped out of school for a host of reasons such as family disruption, poverty, and drug and alcohol problems will have new ways to get their lives back on track under programs being launched by Mission Australia.

The Mission Australia Learning Unlimited programs are to be conducted in partnership with schools and community and employment groups in Adelaide’s northern and western suburbs and in Whyalla and the Riverland. Already successfully trialled in Adelaide’s south, the roll-out of the new programs is being launched on Thursday July 13 at 11am by Minister for Education and Children’s Services Jane Lomax-Smith.

Mission Australia has already started up a number of programs in Adelaide’s west, including the Bridges program in Port Adelaide (an off campus program for the Ocean View College), school holiday programs at Athol Park, and The Bigger Picture anger management programs at Youth Central in Woodville. Other programs will be launched in future.

“Too many young people drop out of school for a range of reasons,” Mission Australia’s Learning Unlimited Services Manager Terra Lea Ranson said. “They may have had to move constantly to different schools because of family conflict, suffered bullying and harassment, had babies at a young age, or had to cope with mental or physical health issues at home, often having to look after other family members.”

“The Learning Unlimited programs take their personal issues and experiences into account so they can re-engage with learning and therefore still look to a positive future through work or further study or training.”

Last year Mission Australia assisted nearly 200 young people in Adelaide’s south through Learning Unlimited, ranging from specialist courses for indigenous students to SAY Choices, where the formal learning takes place through informal channels, such as adventure activities to help students develop personal skills to more confidently address issues in their lives.

As a result, nearly 75 percent of the participants last year either gained meaningful employment, returned to mainstream school, or enrolled in further education. Another 20 percent were referred to more intensive support.

Similar programs will now be run for more than 400 students in Adelaide’s northern and western suburbs and in the State’s north, with further expansion considered in future years.

Dr Lomax-Smith said the Learning Unlimited programs complemented the State Government’s efforts to keep greater numbers of young people in school, work or training. The government has invested $28.4 million in school retention programs and has future plans to reform the SA Certificate of Education and establish 10 trade schools.

“We have a great education system in South Australia and have increased the school retention rate to its highest level in a decade, but too many young people still leave school without a purpose,” she said. “We encourage programs like these which aim to re-engage young people through innovative, flexible and personalised approaches to education.”

Because many young people may have struggled at school due to family, personal or academic issues, Mission Australia’s Learning Unlimited programs allow them to study ‘off-campus’, part-time, and in small groups. They also receive dedicated support to help them deal with issues they may still be facing, whether they are low skills levels as a result of missing lots of school or homelessness because of family conflict.

They then can work towards the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) (Year 11 and/or 12) or nationally accredited modules recognised by TAFE. Each student is also supported with a one-on-one case worker, designed to help address the social and/or emotional issues that they may be facing.

“We are seeing young people with increasingly complex problems or challenges,” Ms Ranson said. “Our aim is to break the cycle of poverty and family dysfunction in the long-term, by giving young people a chance to put their lives back on track, working in partnership, where possible, with their families and schools.”

Media representatives are welcome to attend the launch on Thursday, July 13 at 11am at Mission Australia’s State Office, 60 Halifax Street, Adelaide.

For further information or to arrange separate interviews/photographs, please contact:
Chris Rann, Rann Communication, (08) 8211 7771

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