The Hub is a partnership between The Smith Family, Kurnai College and Monash University and has been initiated by the Gippsland Education Precinct.
The Hub is a five year pilot project that seeks to improve student outcomes, aspiration and engagement by harnessing community resources and building strong partnerships with parents and community organisations.
The Hub will be coordinated by two partnership coordinators, employed by The Smith Family and based at the school. The coordinators will work closely with the school staff and leadership team to identify opportunities for partnerships with local organisations, businesses and tertiary education providers, and to strengthen parental engagement.
The design phase will identify project outcomes, a project structure as well as project plan and strategic plan. Together these elements will inform an implementation proposal and plan.
The Gippsland Education Precinct is collaborating with the Smith Family (TSF) in a pilot project based at Kurnai Secondary College in Morwell/Churchill which aims to:
• improve literacy and numeracy levels;
• improve retention rates to year 12 ; and
• increase young people’s options for tertiary education, pathways and employment
by increasing student, parent and community engagement with the school.
The project, funded by Monash University (Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) Higher Education, Participation and Partnerships (HEPPP) - commenced in mid-July, 2-11 and has two phases:
1) Research and Design: July 2011-October 2012
2) Implementation: 5 years from October 2012 – subject to funding.
The project is now approaching the end of stage one which has involved:
• Drawing together the literature and evidence of best-practice in the area of school –community partnerships:
• Consulting with Kurnai and the broader community about the needs and resources available within the Morwell/Churchill community: and
• Developing a model for implementation at the school - three campuses.
Since July 2011, TSF has conducted a thorough research and consultation process, involving regular meetings with the secondary college leadership team and leading teachers, and surveys of school staff, parents and students. Over 60 organisations in the Latrobe Valley were interviewed/surveyed about the barriers facing young people and their families, and the ways in which those organisations can become involved in the project.
Through this process, a clear understanding of the needs of the community has been generated; a strong relationship with the school has been established and it is clear the leadership team at Kurnai is strongly committed to increasing community, student and parental engagement.
By the end of October 2012, TSF will develop a draft strategic plan for the extended school hub for the next three to five years outlining activities, which will dovetail with the school’s existing strategic plan.
Phase Two – Implementation
Sourcing funding opportunities to provide for implementation of the strategic plan over a five year period is currently underway.
Kurnai Hub Factsheet April 2012 (Approx 377KB)
GEP Hub Newsletter December 2011 (Approx 722KB)
Education Partnerships Hub Pilot Fact Sheet.pdf (Approx 553KB)
GEP Hub Newsletter October 2011.pdf (Approx 320KB)