November 2009 [18.11.2009]

La Trobe University: Evaluation of the ‘Children’s Koori Court of Victoria’
Grant: $50,000
www.latrobe.edu.au

An independent evaluation conducted by Professor Allan Borowski, School of Social Work and Social Policy at La Trobe University found that the Children’s Koori Court (CKC) fostered a strong sense of ownership of juvenile justice on the part of the Koori community, along with an ‘acceptable’ recidivism rate of just under 60 per cent, very low failure–to-appear and court order breach rates and also found that Koori defendants who did reoffend, that their offences were generally less serious than the offences that brought them to the CKC in the first instance. The CKC was found to be an important vehicle for satisfying the demands of Indigenous people for a more effective legal system and these new relationships will go a long way to reducing the overrepresentation of Indigenous youth in the juvenile justice system.

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra: ‘Ping’ – Remote Music Education Project
Grant: $54,050
www.mso.com.au
www.pingmusic.com.au

‘Ping’ trialled the delivery of music education using remote communication tools such as online forums, website, blog, video-conferencing and other methods with four schools in Western Victoria (Hawkesdale P12 College; Heywood Secondary College; Casterton Secondary College & Casterton Primary School). This was a collaborative program between the MSO, Orchestra Victoria, the Song Room, Country Education Project, 3MBS FM and the Department of Education & Early Childhood Development. The program featured musicians, students and teachers to form a blended learning approach allowing rural and regional schools to gain access to expert artists and the inspiration and skills to engage their creativity. The State Government has funded the development of a business plan to take the program forward in 2010 & 2011.