School: Kurunjang Secondary College (VIC)
Partner: Djerriwarrh Health Services
Existing in what was once a homogenous cultural area, Kurunjang Secondary College now finds itself with an increasingly culturally diverse population. The school, which is situated 35 kilometres west of Melbourne in Melton, has found itself needing to address new challenges in catering for a diverse range of students in the past three years. There are now over 320 migrant- and refugee-background students attending 11 schools spread across Melton, and with relatively small numbers of ESL students at any one school, the allocation of funding is limited. This made it difficult for local schools to provide the intensive support these students need.
Kurunjang SC recognised a need and worked with other schools and the local community to provide support to the growing number of Sudanese families in the area. The College bussed students from the region, so they could attend a homework support group run by Kurunjang staff and other volunteers. In 2009, DEECD funded the homework club and Kurunjang SC provided a coordinator for the club, and the College became heavily involved in the program.
In 2008, as a result of consultations and forums held with Kurunjang SC and the Sudanese community in 2007, a Homework Support Working Group was established, involving a range of local community groups and services. The aim was to assist students from ESL and refugee backgrounds to ensure they remain in mainstream schooling. The group draws together eight schools from the Melton area, as well as Kurunjang SC, and sources its tutors from a variety of schools, universities, churches and local community members. A number of groups have volunteered their services in running the program: Kurunjang and Melton Secondary Colleges; Djerriwarrh Health Services; the Melton Shire Youth Services and Best Start team; Victoria University; the Centre for Multicultural Youth; Foundation House and the Melton Police Service.
Victoria University has also organised a partnership with Kurunjang SC and pre-service teachers will be based at the College one day a week as part of their teacher training. These pre-service teachers will attend university lectures and give supervised lessons; provide support to classes and to the homework program.
In July 2008, a homework program began at a local P-12 school, and by the end of 2008 there were 35 enrolments and at least 15 students attending regularly. In 2009, Kurunjang and Melton Secondary Colleges offered homework help once a week at each College and there are now over 40 students regularly attending the program, providing strong evidence of the need and support for the initiative in the area. The Homework Support Program draws on overseas research that shows this kind of study support can help these young people remain engaged in mainstream schooling.
The partnership project, for which a Seed Funding award was sought, is intended to provide an effective homework program for students from an ESL and refugee background to support their particular educational needs. The proposal is: two nights a week for primary students at Mowbray PS and two nights for secondary students at Kurunjang SC. With the help of Schools First Awards funding, it is hoped that more secure and sustainable ways of managing and supporting the program can be established. The employment of a program coordinator to manage and maintain the program will ensure its sustainability.
By providing an effective homework program, it is hoped that the social and educational disadvantages these young people face can also be redressed.
