IOOF Foundation supporting educational outcomes for young people in residential care

By Trish Dodge, IOOF Foundation Manager

The IOOF Foundation supports the Wesley Mission as they help educate young people when they are staying in residential care because of statutory protection orders.

Wesley Mission runs a small number of residential care houses where
young people who have been placed on statutory protection orders
are accommodated and supported by professional staff. These
houses are only for young people for whom foster care
(also known as home-based care) or kinship care would not be suitable.

Research has shown that young people in residential care have
a lower than average educational level and that the experience
of residential care does not improve their educational outcomes.
Poor educational outcomes can lead to a lifetime of disadvantage
and over-reliance on welfare and government assistance.

Education development program

Education plays a significant role in overcoming disadvantage, so the education development program focuses
on supporting educational outcomes for young people in residential care, aimed at furthering their education and connecting them to appropriate support and resources.

The project aims to keep children or young people engaged in school through support from the care team members around them. It also aims to get the child/young person themselves involved in active support.

In the six months since the program started, school attendance amongst program participants increased from 50 per cent to an amazing 100 per cent, with each child having an individual student learning plan in action.

If you can assist with Wesley Mission in supporting education outcomes for children in residential care, please contact the IOOF Foundation www.iooffoundation.org.au.