Learning Support For All Disadvantaged Students

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11th November 2009, 02:06pm - Views: 933





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MEDIA ALERT



FOR YOUR DIARY 


      For Thursday, 12 November 2009

Learning support for all disadvantaged students


EVENT: On 12 November the Brotherhood of St Laurence together with Melbourne Citymission, will

host a forum, ‘Partnering to learn: the role of community organisations in supporting disadvantaged

students’. 


DATE: Thursday, 12 November, 2009


TIME: 9am-1.30pm


WHERE: Jasper Hotel, 489 Elizabeth St, Melbourne



This forum aims to advocate for the provision of learning support programs in all disadvantaged

communities. In the Brotherhood and Melbourne Citymission’s view, education is an important route

out of disadvantage and exclusion. However, many children and young people face significant

disadvantage within the education system. This can mean they fall behind, lose confidence and

motivation, and do not see school as a place where they can succeed.


Learning support (e.g. homework, tutoring) programs provide a fresh venue where students can make

friends, reconnect with learning, get help from tutors and catch up on work. They also offer a quiet

study space with books and equipment (like printing and Internet access) that can be lacking at home.  


Programs are often run by community organisations in partnership with schools and while numbers

have grown exponentially, their success is threatened by lack of funding. In Victoria, a small number

of refugee-focussed programs receive funding from the Victorian government. While this is a great

start, Australia’s policy lags behind places like the United Kingdom whose extended schools program

will offer free study support in all disadvantaged communities in 2012. 


At the forum these issues will be taken up in the keynote address by Rosalyn Black of The

Foundation for Young Australians and by representatives of the Department of Education and Early

Childhood Development, Learning Beyond the Bell program, Melbourne Citymission and the

Brotherhood of St Laurence.





Media inquiries: 

Michael Horn on 0407 324 360




Grahame Whyte on 0410 221 574          








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