Mornington Peninsula Foundation

Schools across the Mornington Peninsula are working together to strengthen learning outcomes for children and young people through shared, evidence‑based approaches to teaching and classroom practice.

Mornington Peninsula Foundation is a place‑based community foundation founded in 2017, with a vision for opportunities and learning to be optimised for all children and young people. Guided by community insight and local data, the Foundation supports collaborative approaches in education and family support that build strong foundations for learning across the Peninsula.

Helen Macpherson Smith Trust has supported Mornington Peninsula Foundation’s education work since 2020. This long-term support reflects the Trust’s commitment to backing targeted, evidence‑based initiatives that contribute to lasting improvements in education systems and outcomes.

The Mornington Peninsula Learning Guarantee builds on earlier collaborative work with a small cluster of schools and has grown into a shared approach across the region. The program brings together two secondary schools and seven feeder primary schools, working collectively to implement evidence‑based literacy teaching and consistent classroom routines. Having shared routines across the cluster supports continuity for students as they move from primary to secondary school and helps maximise learning time in classrooms.

Western Port Secondary College is part of the cluster and is having success in reengaging students in education through their Elevate reengagement program which in 2026 is being expanded to address disengagement in primary school. This focus on prevention, early intervention, and community partnership sits at the heart of Mornington Peninsula Foundation’s approach.