CONNECT

Connecting Communities and Schools

A project funded by the Community Support Fund

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.1General Milestones

1.2Peer Support Program

1.3Parent Support Program

2OVERVIEW

3GENERAL MILESTONES

3.1Regional Steering Group

3.2Evaluation Strategy

3.3Local Action Groups

4PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM

4.1Program Planning, Development and Implementation

4.2Peer Support Program Operating at Secondary Schools

4.3Professional Training

4.4Leader Training

4.5Student Projects

4.6School Holiday Program

4.7Educational Enhancement Program

5PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM

5.1Parent Support Program Operating at Primary and Secondary Schools

5.2Information on School Systems

5.3Parent Involvement in the School and Local Community

5.4Links to Local Youth and Family Support Services

5.5Resource Kits

6RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO MILESTONES

WHERE DO I PUT IN THAT THE PROJECT OFFICER HAS CHANGED?

1.EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This report outlines the CONNECT Project’s progress in relation to the agreed milestones established at the commencement of the funding period in June 2003 (see Attachment 1).

1.1General Milestones

  • The Regional Steering Group has met three times during the reporting period and will continue to meet on a monthly basis in 2004.
  • The evaluation strategy has been implemented and reports have been produced detailing key project activities and events, including participation numbers, participant satisfaction and future directions.
  • The Whitehorse Local Action Group has met regularly and implemented initiatives with the Cambodian and Vietnamese communities as well as guided the planning of holiday programs and peer support training.
  • The Monash Local Action Group has continued to meet and has implemented initiatives with the Chinese community as well as being involved in the planning and running of holiday programs and peer support training.
  • Work plans for the Monash and Whitehorse Local Action Groups have been developed for the six months until June 2004.

1.2Peer Support Program

  • The peer support program is operating in four secondary schools: Mullauna College, Ashwood College, Mount Waverley Secondary College and Doncaster Secondary College. Work will commence with Rowville Secondary College in Term 4, 2004.
  • Peer leader training has been held in April for Ashwood College students and Doncaster Secondary College students in June.
  • Student projects have included circus skills workshops and performances, an international recipe book, and a Youth Agency Tour.
  • One school holiday excursion was conducted in January and three activities are planned for the June / July school holidays in collaboration with local youth and family support agencies.
  • There have been opportunities for Chinese parents to contact school staff for information about issues such as their children’s progress, school curriculum, extra curricular activities and future pathways. CALD parents at Milgate Primary School have also had opportunities to contact school staff.

1.3Parent Support Program

  • The parent support program is operating through primary and secondary schools as well as attracting parents from the wider community. The main groups targeted have been the Vietnamese, Cambodian and Chinese communities.
  • The ABCD program ran again for the third time for Vietnamese parents in May.
  • An education session for the Cambodian parents group was conducted in May.
  • A Chinese Family Day was held for Chinese parents at Mount Waverley Secondary College. This was followed by the first Chinese Parents Network meeting.
  • Resource kits to support schools to better meet the needs of CALD families will be developed by the end of 2004 through the Local Action Groups.

2.OVERVIEW

In the six month period between January and June 2004, CONNECT has continued to run peer support and parent support programs in the Cities of Whitehorse, Manningham and Monash in collaboration with Ashwood College, Doncaster Secondary College, Mount Waverley Secondary College, Mullauna College and Milgate Primary School. New partnerships have also been formed with two schools in the City of Manningham. Work will commence with Rowville Secondary College in Term 4, 2004.

3.GENERAL MILESTONES

3.1 Regional Steering Group

The eleven members of the Regional Steering Group (RSG) have continued to meet on a regular basis between June and June. Representatives on the RSG are from the following organisations:

  • School Focused Youth Service (Manningham and Maroondah)
  • School Focused Youth Service (Whitehorse)
  • School Focused Youth Service (Monash)
  • Blackburn English Language School
  • City of Whitehorse
  • Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Melbourne)
  • Department of Human Services
  • Department of Education and Training
  • Victorian Multicultural Commission
  • Victoria Police

(MONASH – MANNINGHAM)

There were three meetings between January and June. The group will meet on a monthly basis for the remainder of 2004.

3.2 Evaluation Strategy

The Evaluation strategy has been implemented monitoring key project activities and events through participant feedback in the form of focus groups and surveys. Reports have been written detailing the organisation of events, participant numbers, feedback, budget and future directions. This report reflects many of the results collected in the last six months.

3.3 Local Action Groups

The Local Action Group’s (LAG) have continued to meet in the Cities of Whitehorse and Monash to support the peer support and parents support programs operating through the schools and in the community. The first meeting of the Manningham LAG was held in June.

3.3.1 Whitehorse Local Action Group

The Whitehorse LAG has had three meetings in the period January to June 2004. The LAG has worked together to plan and implement initiatives with the Vietnamese and Cambodian communities as well as supporting the peer support program at Mullauna College (details discussed below). The core members of the group comprise representatives from local youth and family support agencies. School representatives continually have difficulty attending meetings due to teaching and school commitments and are therefore informed of meeting outcomes through the minutes. The Project Officer provides their input. The representatives on the group are:

  • Anglicare Parentzone
  • Centacare
  • Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Melbourne)
  • Mullauna College (Student Welfare Coordinator and ESL Coordinator)
  • Reach Out for Kids
  • Youth Connexions

3.3.2 Monash Local Action Group

The Monash LAG has continued to work with the Chinese community at Mount Waverley Secondary College between January and June. The group has also operated holiday programs for students at Ashwood College and Mount Waverley Secondary College and commenced plans for initiatives with the Afghan community in 2004. Like the Whitehorse LAG, representatives from schools have difficulty attending meetings, despite trialling different meeting times. Therefore, schools receive communication through meeting minutes and they provide input through the Project Officer. The group’s members include representatives from:

  • Ashwood College (Student Welfare Coordinator)
  • Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Melbourne)
  • Mount Waverley Secondary College (ESL Coordinator)
  • Monash Youth and Family Services
  • Monashlink
  • Parkhill Primary School (ESL Coordinator)
  • Wanda In Community House (Unitingcare Connections)

3.3.3 Manningham Local Action Group

A Local Action Group for the City of Manningham was established in June 2004. The group will meet monthly. The agencies that have expressed interest in the LAG include representatives from:

  • Manningham Community Health Service
  • Donvale Living and Learning Centre
  • Doncaster Police Station
  • Doncaster Secondary College
  • Milgate Primary (ESL Coordinator)
  • Doncare
  • Eastern Recreation and Leisure Services Inc.
  • A resident and representative for the Afghan community
  • Migrant Information Centre (Eastern Melbourne)

3.3.4 Knox Local Action Group

A Local Action Group for the City of Knox will be established in Term 4, to support the CONNECT Project beginning work at Rowville Secondary College.

4.PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM

4.1 Program Planning, Development and Implementation

Work plans for the Monash and Whitehorse LAG’s have been developed for the period January to June 2004 (see Table 1). Planning beyond a six-month timeframe has not been attempted, as future initiatives will be dependent on the outcome and evaluation of the activities and events that are conducted between January to June. It is recommended that future planning also be carried out on a six-monthly basis, rather than annually for this reason.

Table 1: Work Plans for the Whitehorse, Manningham and Monash Local Action Groups

Whitehorse LAG / Timeline
Forums for Vietnamese parents about education and parenting issues to be held in conjunction with the Mang Non Vietnamese Language School / One forum per term
ABCD Plus program in Term 3 (awaiting outcome of funding)
One / two sessions in Term 4
Network for Cambodian Parents addressing parenting issues in Australia / Meetings to be held quarterly commencing in May
Relationships Australia – development of a Relationships
Implement model for CONNECT sustainability at Mullauna College / December
School holiday program / One excursion per holiday period
Manningham LAG / Timeline
Information session for CALD parents at Milgate Primary regarding middle year curriculum. In Term 4 assistance will be given to parents with visits to their children’s future schools / ‘Middle Year’ Curriculum – August
Visits to local Secondary Colleges – Term 4
Identify a community/ ites for parents from Doncaster Secondary College
CONNECT Peer Leader Training program for Doncaster College students / December
School holiday program / One excursion per holiday period
Monash LAG / Timeline
Family Day for the Chinese community at Mount Waverley Secondary College / Family Day Saturday, 27thMarch
Chinese Parents Network at Mount Waverley Secondary College
CONNECT Peer Leader Training program for Ashwood College students / December
CONNECT Peer Leader Training program for Mount Waverley College students / December
School holiday program / One excursion per holiday period

4.2 Peer Support Program Operating at Secondary Schools

The peer support program has continued to operate at Mullauna College, Ashwood College and Mount Waverley Secondary College over the past six months. Doncaster Secondary College leaders were trained in June and will begin activities in Term 3.

Peer Support activities between January and June have included the following:

  • Indoor sports competitions
  • Indoor games (board games, cards etc) sessions at lunchtime at Mullauna College
  • Circus skills workshops for Mullauna students with performances at Mullauna and Blackburn English Language School
  • Compilation of an international recipe book
  • School holiday trip to Galactic Circus and Movie for students in Monash
  • Class activity sessions run by CONNECT Leaders with Year 7 and 8 ESL students at Mount Waverley Secondary College
  • CONNECT Peer Leader training program for Ashwood College and Doncaster Secondary College
  • Introduction activity for ESL students and CONNECT Leaders at Ashwood College

4.3 Professional Training

The CONNECT Project Officer presented at the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues “First ever Forum for all CLD Youth Workers in Victoria” forum to an audience of youth workers about the CONNECT Project and the issues the project aims to address for refugee young people and their parents.

In August the CONNECT Project Officer will present to Certificate IV Youth Studies students at Swinburne University (Croydon).

Specific training about CONNECT will be held at each participating secondary school in 2004.

4.4 CONNECT Leader Training

The CONNECT Leader training program has been conducted for students at Mullauna College and Mount Waverley Secondary College in December. Students at Ashwood College and Doncaster Secondary College will receive training in Terms 1 and 2, 2004. The details are as follows:

  • Sixteen Year 10 students were trained as CONNECT Leaders from Ashwood College in May.
  • Fourteen Year 10 students from Doncaster Secondary College participated in the CONNECT Leader training course in June.
  • All Colleges will have training for 2005 CONNECT Leaders in December.
  • Rowville Secondary College students will participate in the training program in Term 4, 2004.

4.5 Student Projects

The student projects in Terms 1 and 2 have been very successful in building team spirit and self confidence among the students involved in CONNECT. The following projects have been conducted in the last six months:

  • 50 Year 7, Year 8 and ESL Students from Mullauna College participated in 3 circus and drumming workshops in Term 1. The workshops were funded by a National Youth Week grant and were facilitated by Collin Bogaars, a professional street performer. The students then performed to approximately 300 staff and students at Mullauna College and 100 staff and students at Blackburn English Language School, during Cultural Diversity Week in March.
  • Leaders at Mullauna College worked with students to produce an international recipe book throughout the first two terms. The book will be launched in Term 4, 2004.
  • 2 Leaders and 13 ESL students from Mullauna College participated in a “Youth Agency Tour” of youth services in the Whitehorse local government area. The feedback from the students was very positive and a similar tour has been organised for the ESL students at Ashwood College in July.
  • The major tree planting project for the CONNECT students at Mount Waverley Secondary College has been postponed until 2004 due to delays in the rebuilding of the college after fires in January 2003. With the support of Victoria Police and the Metropolitan Fire Brigade Kmart has donated trees and horticultural services to the college to assist replanting the burnt area. CONNECT students will assist to plan and implement the tree planting day and will take initiative for the maintenance of the trees.

4.6 School Holiday Program

The school holiday programs have been organised and conducted in partnership with Youth Connexions in the City of Whitehorse and Monash Youth and Family Services in the City of Monash. In the September school holidays two activities were held:

  • Ten students from the City of Monash attended a trip to Galactic Circus in the City and a movie.
  • Twenty-eight students from the City of Monash attended a trip to the La Trobe Wildlife Sanctuary for a nature tour and BBQ. The Victoria Police donated the use of their police bus for transportation purposes on the day.

In the June / July school holidays there will be an excursion to Indoor Rock Climbing and Crafts for students from the City of Whitehorse and an excursion to the Healesville Sanctuary for City of Monash students. Female students from all schools have been invited to a ‘Girls Only’ involving Henna Body Art, Personal Safety, Jewellery making.

4.7 Educational Enhancement Program

In the past six months there have been opportunities for parents to contact school staff for information about issues such as their children’s progress, school curriculum, extra curricular activities and future pathways.

There have also been opportunities for young people to receive additional support with their studies. These opportunities are discussed below.

  • Chinese parents family day in Term 1, 2004
  • The inaugural Chinese Parents Network meeting was held at Mount Waverley Secondary College
  • The Cambodian multicultural aide from Mullauna College has commenced attending the Cambodian parents group to provide information and advice to parents about the college.
  • Two morning tea / information sessions were held at Milgate Primary School in the first two terms for CALD parents. The parents had the opportunity to meet the ESL teacher, ask questions and receive information about adolescence and transition. The families were from Chinese, Iranian and Arabic backgrounds.
  • The Migrant Youth Support Worker based at Whitehorse City Council has established a homework support group at Box Hill Library. CONNECT has been working in collaboration with the worker to refer young people from participating schools to the homework group to receive additional support with their studies. The homework program has also been advertised to the parents participating in the parent groups discussed above.

5.PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM

5.1 Parent Support Program Operating at Primary and Secondary Schools

In the six months between January and June 2004, parent support initiatives were implemented in the Cities of Manningham, Monash and Whitehorse. The main groups targeted were the Vietnamese, Cambodian and Chinese communities. Parents at Mount Waverley Secondary College, Mullauna College, and Milgate Primary School were targeted as well as parents in the wider community through organisations such as the Blackburn North Baptist Church and Mang Non Vietnamese Language School.

5.2 Information on School Systems

The following information sessions were conducted for CALD parents covering issues relating to the Victorian education system (further details about these sessions are discussed in the following section):