Universities, community organisations and businesses across Australia are being encouraged to become involved in a groundbreaking new program which works with people who have faced, or continue to face, a range of issues, including mental and physical illness, addiction or the risk of homelessness.

The Catalyst-Clemente program is a joint initiative between the Australian Catholic University (ACU), Mission Australia and the St Vincent de Paul Society and uses the Arts and Humanities – eg: literature, drama – to build participants’ self-esteem, create a feeling of community engagement and develop new possibilities for the future.

Catalyst-Clemente is modelled on a previously successful initiative in the USA and is based on the belief that poverty is more than just exclusion from material goods – it’s also about social exclusion.

Accordingly, the way out of poverty is about giving people access to more than just a wage or vocational training, it’s also about engaging them in activities that lead to social interaction, learning and community participation.

Since beginning in 2003, Catalyst-Clemente is now offered in Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra, with the possibility of courses in Perth and Melbourne soon to follow.

Mission Australia’s National Manager of Research and Social Policy, Anne Hampshire, said Catalyst-Clemente had been an outstanding success.

“Catalyst-Clemente students are often dealing with extremely complex issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, mental health issues and the risk of homelessness.

“It’s a huge achievement for people struggling with these challenges to be able to apply themselves to a university subject on Australian literature, or be part of a performance of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.

“A total of 17 out of 30 students successfully completed a subject in the second semester of 2006, including all the university assessment tasks – an extraordinary success given the backgrounds of the participants. In addition to the benefits of improved self-esteem, the students also walk away with real communication, literacy and computer skills – along with credits for future study – which can only be a plus in terms of re-engaging with the community.”

Associate Professor Peter Howard, ACU National’s Director of Catalyst-Clemente, said the course’s impact on the students was immediate and profound.

“Since undertaking the course we’ve had students organise work experience for themselves, apply to university and to the National Art School,” Associate Professor Howard said.

“Through Catalyst-Clemente, some students have set up their own blogs, which they use to network with each other and other ACU students. They discuss what they’ve learnt, access information and undertake research. Many of them also have a sense of a very different future for themselves.”

Another major benefit of Catalyst-Clemente is its cost effectiveness.
“Through the close collaboration between the NGOs and university, the resources contributed to run Catalyst-Clemente have been significantly leveraged, with the program’s impact being achieved in a very cost effective way.

“We’re very optimistic about the program’s future. Catalyst-Clemente will soon be available in Perth through the Edith Cowan University and we have hopes for expanding into Melbourne in the second half of this year,” Associate Professor Howard said.

According to John Finneran, Administrator of the Sydney Archdiocese, St Vincent De Paul Society, the most significant benefit of the program is the impact it’s having with very disadvantaged Australians.

“Catalyst-Clemente is having a real and hopefully long-lasting impact on people’s lives – bringing them back into contact with the community and improving their image of themselves and their relationships with family and friends.

“If someone’s interacting more broadly with the community, all the other factors important to successful participation are made more likely for each individual – getting a job, finding a stable home or receiving counselling.”

The partners in the Catalyst-Clemente program are urging other universities, community organisations and businesses to become involved.

“If more Australian universities, community organisations and businesses came on board we could expand the course around the country and reach a great many more people. The opportunities for Catalyst-Clemente in Australia are really without limit,” concluded Anne Hampshire.

Go to the report.

Media inquiries: Paul Andrews (02) 9219 2080 or 0409 665 495