Brophy Family and Youth Services
Education
A collaborative response to youth disengagement in regional Victoria
Case Study: Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
ProjectVACCA Education Strategic Plan
Amount$30,000
Date2021
ProgramEducation
| TRUST OBJECTIVES | PROJECT OBJECTIVES |
|---|---|
| Rural and regional Victoria | Improving the educational engagement of children & young people in rural and regional Victoria, thus contributing to the potential of their communities |
| Reducing inequality | Identifying barriers to school attendance for Indigenous Australians and proposing solutions |
| Building organisational capacity | Expanding VACCA’s knowledge and capability in the education space |
| Collaboration and partnership | Social Ventures Australia, Department of Education Koorie Outcomes Division, Berry Street Education Model, Victorian Aboriginal Education Association (VAEAI) |
A new strategy to guide VACCA’s focus and work on education in Victoria
With equity of opportunity at its core, this capacity building project will articulate a new education strategy for VACCA, defining how the organisation works across the Victorian community to improve school engagement and education outcomes for Indigenous children and young people in its care.
Image Photographer Mindy Brown/VACCA
In 2020, as COVID-19 led to significant changes to schooling in Victoria, VACCA conducted a survey about the educational experience and needs of the children and young people they work with across the state. The results highlighted current experiences of disadvantage, with very poor access to computers and the internet at home, and many not having access to basic needs such as desks and chairs. By term 4, about half of those surveyed were not engaged in school activities at all. As a state-wide provider of services to over 1,000 Aboriginal children and young people, VACCA quickly recognised their responsibility to take action to address the level of educational disadvantage of these children.
Snapshot:
- VACCA is working with Social Ventures Australia (SVA) to define its education priorities as well as further develop internal capabilities to change the educational trajectory of the children in its care.
- The resulting plan will define a clear purpose for the organisation, determine strategic priorities and actions, and consider how the strategy will be delivered and evaluated over time.
- A Monitoring and Evaluation Framework will be built into the plan.
- One of this project’s goals is to build VACCA’s internal capability in relation to education. Accordingly, a priority will be to share the plan extensively across the organisation, including forums with leadership, regional staff groups, carers and families, and young people, actively engaging all internal stakeholders about how they can contribute to achieving VACCA’s educational objectives.
- This project aligns with Marrung, a strategy to ensure that all Koorie Victorians achieve their learning aspirations, developed in partnership by the Victorian Government, through the Department of Education and Training, and the Victorian Indigenous community.
“This is important work that will help VACCA to drive real and lasting change across the community.” Nicholas Perini, Director, SVA Consulting
