Canberra College wins $750K as Schools First National Impact Award winner

28 November 2009

Canberra College has received the highest acknowledgement possible from Schools First as the inaugural National Impact winner and recipient of $750,000 in total.

The award recognises their partnership with the Child Youth and Women's Health Program of ACT Department of Health and their ground-breaking ‘CCCares' unit developed to address the educational and health needs of young parents.

The College was one of eight exemplary finalists representing each Australian state and territory – all of whom have received $100,000 as a state and territory impact Award winner.

The National winner was announced by Acting Prime Minister, Minister for Education, the Hon. Julia Gillard at the inaugural Schools First national ceremony held on Friday evening at the Great Hall, NGV International in Melbourne.

Hosted by Sunrise's David Koch, the event was attended by NAB Group CEO Cameron Clyne, Schools First Chair and NAB Group Deputy CEO Michael Ullmer, Australian Council for Educational Research CEO Professor Geoff Masters, The Foundation for Young Australians Chairman Mark Paton and over 250 distinguished guests.

View photos of the Awards night.

Brought to life by NAB in partnership with FYA and ACER, Schools First is a $15 million three year awards program designed to improve student outcomes through school – community partnerships.

About the winning partnership

Canberra College's partnership was considered the most outstanding partnership from this year's inspiring 1,552 applications nationwide.

Their CCCares program helps address the needs of students experiencing teenage pregnancy or with young families, by caring for 95 individuals who would otherwise be lost to the education system. Young mothers and fathers are joined in the school by other students who for one reason or another are disadvantaged and disenfranchised.

The program has positively affected the students, the school staff, the partners as well as the community at large. Its results include:

• an increase in CCCares relevant students graduating from Year 12 – from one in 2004 to 20 in 2008
• an increase in students seeking external health care services
• health care workers gaining more experience and confidence in working with younger, vulnerable members of the community.

The College has also benefited through enrolment and certification rates, as well as developing a heightened sense of social justice.

Canberra College is in consultation with education and health sectors around the country about replicating a similar program across the nation, and the award funds will assist with this process.

Go to Canberra College's page