Thinking outside the box inspires great art

Seven Catalyst Clemente students unveiled their acrylics, oils and pencil drawings last Thursday night at the opening of a new art exhibition at Brisbane’s Australian Catholic University (ACU).

The class has just completed 2D Studies and Art, one of four units they have to finish to obtain a Certificate in Liberal Studies through the innovative learning program Mission Australia has run with ACU in Brisbane since 2006.

Joining students at the Catalyst Clemente Art Exhibition opening were Prof Lindsay Farrell, ACU’s Acting Associate Vice Chancellor; Prof Jude Butcher, Director of the Institute for Advancing Community Engagement, and our State Director Queensland, Penny Gillespie, who spoke to students and guests.

“The fact is, we don’t all fit into a specific mould and the system doesn’t work for everyone,” Ms Gillespie said at the launch. “But at Mission Australia, we believe it shouldn’t be the case that those who ‘don’t fit’ should miss out.

“What we can see here tonight is the kind of results you can achieve – the remarkable talent you can unearth – when you start thinking outside the box to give everyone a chance at learning.”

Three Catalyst students – Chris, Pamela and Luke – also shared how the program had transformed their lives:

After suffering an acute brain injury, Chris had been socially isolated for many years and struggled to connect with others. Chris, who has completed his second Catalyst unit, explained how the program had given him a love of art and he now is a prolific painter.

His classmate Luke told guests how, over the course of his decade-long struggle with mental illness he’d cut himself off from the outside world. Thanks to Catalyst Clemente he now has a new lease on life, is enjoying volunteer work and is about to complete his fourth semester of study.

Finally, Pamela was presented with her complete graduation certificate on the night for completing the Catalyst program. Pamela thanked all the staff at ACU, Mission Australia and Minter Ellison Lawyers, who are involved in the program. She told guests she had been blown away by the experience,

Catalyst offers marginalised people, many of whom are dealing with mental health issues or disabilities and are socially disadvantaged, the opportunity to undertake free accredited university courses in humanities subjects. The program helps participants overcome self-esteem, mental health and confidence issues, interact and plan for a positive future.

Subjects are taught by lecturers from ACU National and students team up with volunteer learning partners such as Minter Ellison Lawyers, who provide fortnightly individual support and academic assistance to students as part of its Community Investment Program.

The program, which is made possible thanks to community generosity, involves four unit semesters of study, with classes held for three hours each week for 12 weeks.

After each unit, students are awarded Certificates of Attainment and on completion of all four, they are awarded Certificates in Liberal Arts and given credit points towards further university studies.

Congratulations to all our Brisbane students, including Rhonda, Josephine and Naomi, who have finished their first unit, and Amanda, who has completed two units.

If you would like to support Catalyst Clemente in Brisbane, please call MaryAnne Morgan on (07) 3394 8152.

Further reading:

• Catalyst students celebrate learning
• Learning life lessons through Catalyst Clemente

Language program opening doors for new arrivals

Last night comedian Anh Do won the Australian Book Industry Awards for his memoir The Happiest Refugee, which dealt with his early challenges learning to speak and write English.

Do’s story had a happy ending, but thousands of people remain locked out of employment and community life because of poor literacy skills.

To help, Mission Australia runs a Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program (LLNP) in more than 30 metro and rural locations. The program aims to help build students’ verbal and written English skills and in turn open doors to employment, study and community participation.

It also targets Australian-born clients who have had disrupted or minimal access to formal education and assists these clients with their reading, writing and numeracy.

Tom McKay, Mission Australia Operations Manager said that LLNP not only provides students with the opportunity to go on to further study and employment, but it also helps them to form friendships and connect with the wider community.

“If you are unable to communicate effectively there can be a feeling of isolation within the immediate community and stronger language skills empower people to be able to get out and be part of the community,” said Mr McKay.

For Muhammad and Maggie, two of Mission Australia’s LLNP students in Sydney’s inner west, the course has made a huge difference.

Muhammad (pictured with LLNP teacher Tina Zhang) enrolled in the program within a week of arriving in Australia. He is fluent in four other languages and moved to Australia from Cairo, Egypt.

Since completing more than half of the course, Muhammad’s written and oral English skills have increased dramatically. As a qualified engineer in Cairo, he hopes to gain employment in the same area once he finishes the LLNP program.

Muhammad added that he also enjoys the social aspect of the class and being able to talk to others in his situation. Having arrived in Australia alone, Muhammad is looking forward to meeting more people in his local area – and knows that strong English skills will unlock more social possibilities for him.

“I love coming to class so I can talk to others and practise my English. Our teacher is fantastic and always provides any extra help if needed”, he said.
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For Maggie, a mother of two from Hong Kong, the course has helped her build confidence to complete everyday practical tasks.

“Before I started the course, I found it very difficult to do simple things,” she said. “Now I can do things like take my son to the doctor or write a note to my son’s school.”

LLNP provides up to 800 hours of language, literacy and numeracy training. Courses are provided in 200 hour modules, with minimum attendance of 10 hours per week.

The initiative is a Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) program that is available to eligible jobseekers who want to increase skills in speaking, listening, reading, writing and maths.

The program is available through Mission Australia in New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, with a new LLNP service recently beginning in Geraldton.

To find out more, visit the LLNP page or call 1300 676 937.

Catalyst students celebrate learning

Celebration is one of our values at Mission Australia (along with compassion, integrity, respect and perseverance), so we always welcome the opportunity to mark significant achievements with get-togethers.

Last month, seven of our Catalyst Clemente Melbourne students celebrated the completion of their Australian Indigenous History unit, provided by Mission Australia in partnership with the Australian Catholic University (ACU).

The students were joined by Jude Butcher, Director of the Institute for Advancing Community Engagement, ACU; Mission Australia CEO Toby Hall, and many proud family members, friends, lecturers, Learning Partners and Mission Australia staff at ACU’s Melbourne campus.

On congratulating the class, course lecturer Dr Noah Riseman said the quality of work produced by the Catalyst Clemente students often exceeded his expectations.

Towards the end of the night, guests were treated to a musical recital by Mood Swingers, a vocal group from St Mary’s House of Welcome. Among the singers were 2011 Catalyst graduate Darren and past student Suzanne.

Current student Michael also delivered a beautiful poem about his experience with Catalyst Clemente. Born in the Philippines, he moved to Geelong at age 16. Coming from a very tight-knit, densely populated community to a regional area of Australia was a huge culture shock. Getting through Year 12 was especially difficult for Michael, as he was constantly bullied.

He was later diagnosed with mental health issues and fell into psychosis in 2003. His mental health then rapidly declined.

Michael moved to Melbourne in 2005 and, after an intense fall-out with his family, found himself living on the streets. He found semi-permanent accommodation in Richmond for the next two years, before moving into The Fintry Community. That’s where he heard about Catalyst Clemente from a former student.

At the recent Catalyst celebration, Michael beautifully expressed his thoughts on the value of education and the life-changing program:

"Education. It provides a unique form of freedom once learned can never be taken away. Writing, reading and research. The truth. The workload, its all part of the process. A process of which that requires dedication and commitment. At the end, a rewarding career. The age of digital technology. Revolutionising the way information is gathered and stored. The late nights and the insomnia. I wonder if I’m going to pass or get a good grade. Time management is the key. Do the reading and participate. Asked questions and make relevant comments. Take notes in the lecture, it will help you study. The level of academic ability. If you are passionate on what you are doing, you will be successful. Chose wisely on your degree, deferring is always the difficult thing. On campus and online. Some people prefer one over the other. To me personally it’s a bit of both actually. I never thought I’d end up at the Australian Catholic University, even though I did my primary school studies at St. Francis of Assisi in the Philippines.

"Chivalry is not dead. You will learn that in university with the proper learning partner. A God send who will help you on your way. How do I reference, ask them and they are more than happy to show ya. Mission Australia. Where would I be without the guiding light? Perhaps still asking questions where there is no answer. A free education and delicious food from Nicole and Layla.

"The program that help people study. What a great idea. Higher education at the ACU. I feel that I can build an empire of true Christian values. All you need is faith and your Mac Book computer. Finally to the teachers and coordinators thank you for the time and effort, I did my best to repay in academia. Who said that learning is not fun, maybe it’s just the voice of negativity, which thanks to university has become a lot quieter. All the best and enjoy the celebration."

Melbourne’s Catalyst Clemente students are now enjoying a well-deserved break until mid August, when they will begin the Introduction to Media Studies. A first-time inclusion in Catalyst Clemente, it is anticipated the subject will add a new dimension to the program, giving the students the opportunity to participate in a more ‘hands on’ and interactive approach to world of the humanities.

Further reading:

• Learning Life Lessons Through Catalyst Clemente
• A Catalyst for changing women’s lives
• Survey reveals stark difference in outlook between homeless and non-homeless youth

Media coverage: Alarming drop-out rates in Dandenong

Mission Australia’s State Director for Victoria, Paul Bird, has told The Dandenong Leader that only one in three young people were either full-time students or employed in Greater Dandenong.

“We would experience a high number of people leaving schools, but have no figures because schools aren’t recording it,” Mr Bird said. “But I think it’s happening across Melbourne.”

He said more early intervention services for families, including access to financial, anger and stress management were needed before people hit crisis point.

“I think it’s easy to see schools in not helping, but in reality, if the person is not attending class or disrupting, there are limited options. I think they (schools) do a tough job with limited resources,” Mr Bird said.

In the same article a Youth Resource Officer with Springvale Police, Leading Sen-Constable Leanne Cooper, said children were dropping out of school as early as Year 7 without any follow-up.

She said many parents were happy to have their children at home, citing at least one 16-year-old girl who had not attended school since she was in Year 7.

Read the full article at The Dandenong Leader.

Media Release: Help needed for kids from disadvantaged families to make successful transition to school

Disadvantaged families with complex needs require a range of supports to assist their children make a successful transition to school according to a new report.

The report, Facilitating children’s transition to school from families with complex support needs – a joint publication between Charles Sturt University, University of Western Sydney, Mission Australia and the NSW Department of Human Services – says transition to school programs and third parties acting as mediators between families and schools are among the keys to getting children from disadvantaged families off to a successful start in education.

According to Mission Australia spokesperson, Paul Andrews, families with complex support needs are less likely to have positive relationship and engagement with schools because of cultural and language differences, poverty, unemployment, dislocation, violence, illness or disability and this can impact on their child’s transition to school.

“For families with complex support needs the transition to school for their child can be a time of great difficulty and vulnerability but it’s also an opportunity to get things right,” according to Mr Andrews.

“There is compelling international evidence that the early years of a person’s life establish the foundations for adulthood. If there is upheaval during this time – particularly during the transition from preschool to school – there is a greater chance a person will experience difficulties, including poverty, unemployment and engaging in criminal behaviour, in later years.

“This report worked with 44 families across NSW – more than half from non-metro areas – to understand what they needed for their kids to start school as successfully as possible.

“They identified supports including establishing ‘transition to school’ programs, providing information for families about schools and enrolment, and professionals acting as links between families and schools.

“Other supports identified by families as helpful include services that can adapt as family needs change and continuity of support.

“In terms of continuity, many early childhood programs cease as children begin school – despite it being a time of great anxiety and uncertainty within these families. Having programs continue while the transition takes place is extremely important.

“The main concerns for the families participating in the report regard their children’s behaviour at school, family engagement with school and the financial pressures of having children at school. Parents were also keen to have an ongoing relationship with their child’s school but were unsure how to go about doing that.

“If services and supports can address those challenges then we’re well on our way to giving kids from struggling families the best start to their education possible,” said Mr Andrews.


The report, Facilitating children’s transition to school from families with complex support needs, is available to download at missionaustralia.com.au/downloads/19-social-policy-reports

Learning life lessons through Catalyst Clemente

When asked why she volunteers, Catalyst Clemente Learning Partner Sarah Carter has a simple answer – she loves helping people to help themselves.

A Reservoir Engineer with Woodside Energy, which is a strong corporate supporter of our services in Western Australia, Sarah has been involved with the Catalyst Clemente program since it was introduced to Mission Australia’s Wattle House two years ago.

Delivered in Perth in partnership with Edith Cowan University, this accessible program enables people who have experienced significant challenges in life, including homelessness, to participate in undergraduate level humanities education. It caters for the particular needs of students by combining education with social support.

Learning Partners like Sarah are recruited from corporate partners and the wider community, and play a vital role in the program. As a Learning Partner, Sarah supports and assists students at weekly study evenings during the semester and with essay writing, research and course material interpretation.

Team Leader Community Development and Catalyst Clemente Coordinator, Mario Gomes, said he has been impressed by Sarah’s unfailing commitment to the program over the past two years, despite the demands of her family and working life.

“She has been with us from the start and has renewed her commitment unit after unit,” he said. “On one occasion, she was very busy at work, but came all the way out to Maddington for the Catalyst learning evening, then went back to her office to complete her work! Sarah had her first baby last year, so we really appreciate the time she gives is valuable.

But for Sarah, the satisfaction she receives from volunteering at Wattle House make it worth the effort: “It is not difficult juggling volunteering with my paid work but I have found it more difficult to fit in spending time with my son, Henry,” she said. “Ultimately, I really enjoy my volunteering time and so try to fit this in around our family routine - my husband helps by picking up the slack at home!

“The most rewarding thing about volunteering is the opportunity to be involved in the greater community doing something that helps others and that is not just about me,” Sarah said.

“Also seeing students graduate from their four subjects as part of the program and move on to further university study or different challenges in their lives with so much more confidence and motivation. The students become great examples for their family and children and end up not just changing their lives but those around them as well.

Mario said its this positive attitude that makes Catalyst volunteers like Sarah an integral part of the program: “Our six Learning Partner volunteers are extraordinary. So often they tell me that they get more out of volunteering that the Catalyst Clemente students do,” he said. “I think that’s because it’s very tangible work. The volunteers help the students to get results and feel so proud to be a part of their success – it’s very interactive.”

For Sarah, student graduation ceremonies are the highpoints of her volunteering year. Seeing the sense of achievement on the faces of the students, she said, make her efforts worthwhile.

“There is so much to gain from getting involved in your community through volunteering activities and I’d recommend it to anyone,” she said. “It is also really important to use volunteering as a way to help people help themselves, which is what the Catalyst Clemente program is all about.”

Find out about current volunteering opportunities at Mission Australia’s Wattle House at our WA Volunteering Opportunities page.

Further reading:

• Woodside volunteers freshen up YASS for Christmas
• Promoting social inclusion: Emerging evidence from the Catalyst-Clemente program
• World opens up for WA Catalyst graduates
  

Media coverage - Blacktown Sun: A chance to assist migrants

People who want to help new migrants settle in Australia should do what Sarah Cullen, 27, of Blacktown, did.

Ms Cullen is a Mission Australia Home Tutor Scheme volunteer who has been tutoring Manizha Zaki from Afghanistan in English for four years.

"I have learnt a lot from Manizha and gained a wonderful friend," she said. "Watching her English skills develop has been inspirational.

"When I first met her, she could barely say 'hello' and 'goodbye,' let alone hold a conversation. She can now speak English on the phone, make appointments, use public transport and even apply for jobs.

"I work full-time with Josephite Community Aid in Seven Hills, but the commitment to the Home Tutor Scheme is only one to two hours a week and the time I spend with Manizha is well worth it."

Ms Cullen has benefited by picking up practical knowledge, including recipes for Afghani dishes.

Manizha Zaki praised Ms Cullen's tutoring and said they had become good friends.

Mission Australia's Home Tutor Scheme team leader Mina Zolfaghari said the service played a crucial role in helping new Australians settle here successfully and contribute to their communities.

"Not knowing our national language can be a huge barrier in settling into Australian life," she said.

"Imagine not being able to make a doctor's appointment for a sick child or buy a train ticket."

To become a volunteer or for more information, call 9635 1543.

Story and image courtesy of The Blacktown Sun

Read a recent media release from MA to find out more about Mission Australia's Home Tutor Scheme.

Media Release: Mission Australia launches new education program for young mums

A new program that breaks the barriers preventing young mums from completing a mainstream education is now accepting enrolments in the Greater Dandenong region.

The Aim’n High program, a joint collaboration between Mission Australia, Hallam Senior Secondary College and South East Local Learning and Employment Network, will give young mothers aged 16 to 19 access to high quality childcare in a supportive learning environment.

Aim'n High also provides intensive case management and parenting education, with plans to include visits from the Maternal and Child Health Service to ensure the mums get all the support they need to meet the demands of parenthood and study.

Mission Australia Manager of Child and Family Services Melinda Chapman said many young mothers needed help in completing their education.

"We saw Mission Australia's Early Learning Services as an opportunity to combine our services and offer childcare while assisting those mums with their studies," she said.

Up to 20 students in the program will study VCE level English and Human Development, taught by teachers from Hallam Secondary College, in a four-day week. Homework can be completed in the afternoon, helping to confine workload within school hours.

"It's challenging to be a first-time mum, regardless of facing the demands of study as well. This Program will make a significant difference to young mothers' education outcomes and to address issues such as disadvantage and disengagement," Melinda said.

"We hope to see our students eventually return to mainstream study at a school or go on to TAFE or vocational training."

National Director of Mission Australia Early Learning Services Marie Howard said: "We are very excited to offer this unique service to young mums. It's extra support and easy access to education and quality childcare, in a comfortable and safe environment."

The Program will run at Mission Australia's Early Learning Service at Doveton.  Find location details for this service (including maps) at this link.

Aim'n High is now taking enrolments. For more information call the South East Youth Connections Program on 1800 335 106.

To coordinate an interview with Melinda Chapman or for photo opportunities, contact:

• Sigrid Rynehart, Mission Australia on (03) 8615 2226 / 0428 865 335 or ryneharts@missionaustralia.com.au
• Emily Lehmann, Fenton Communications on (03) 9600 0006 / 0421 852 501 or emilyl@fenton.com.au

Language program opens doors to work, study and the community

Today is the Ides of March, immortalised by Shakespeare in Julius Caesar – but how many people who will hear or read the term today know that in Roman times “ides” simply referred to the 15th (or sometimes 13th) day of the month?

It’s a reminder of how complex and rich the English language is – and just how difficult it must be for non-native speakers to master.

Through its Language, Literacy and Numeracy Programs (LLNP), Mission Australia aims to help people for whom English is second language to build up their verbal and written English skills, and in turn open doors to employment, study and community participation.

Catering for a wide range of backgrounds and ages, Mission Australia delivers this program in 40 city and rural locations. In the Sydney metropolitan area, women make up 70 percent of the 400 LLNP students.

Mission Australia Operations Manager Tom McKay said that LLNP not only provided students with the opportunity to go on to further study and employment, but it also helped them to form friendships and connect with the wider community.

“If you are unable to communicate effectively there can be a feeling of isolation within the immediate community and stronger language skills empower people to be able to get out and be part of the community,” he said.

“Many women in particular find LLNP a fantastic place to forge strong friendships and increase their learning in a very supportive environment that respects and incorporates a plethora of cultures.”

Shakti Sah-Raj, Mission Australia’s Manager LLNP in Bankstown, said one of the great joys of her job is seeing students build self-esteem and gain friends through the classes.

“One of our students, A’idah*, is a Sudanese refugee who has made good friends through LLNP,” said Ms Sah-Raj. “During the recent unrest in Egypt, she was not sleeping or eating well as she was so worried about her daughter in Cairo. Nevertheless, she always made it to LLNP to learn English. By talking to her classmates and her teacher, she said she gained the great comfort and support.”

She added that another student from a Greek background has never missed a day, despite recently being diagnosed with cancer: “She really wants to learn English and is determined to come to school everyday until her operation, and then she’ll be back in class. She’s an inspiration to everyone.”

LLNP students also include Australian-born native English speakers who may missed out of educational opportunities early in life, to those who may not be able to read and write in their own native language and overseas university graduates needing help with their English.

“In today’s society all should have the opportunity to compete on a fair and equitable basis and without the necessary numeracy, literacy and language skills many people will continue to face disadvantage,” added Mr McKay.

LLNP is a Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations program that is available to eligible jobseekers who want to increase skills in speaking, listening, reading, writing and maths. The program is available through Mission Australia in New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

To find out more visit the LLNP page on the MA website or call 1300 MPOWER (1300 676 937). 

*Name has been changed

World opens up for WA Catalyst graduates

A dream has come true for three students of Mission Australia’s Catalyst Clemente program in Western Australia who last week received their University Certificates in Humanities and Arts.

Dressed in graduation regalia, Beverley, Loralei and Amanda joined about 400 Edith Cowan University (ECU) graduates at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre last Sunday.

Before the ceremony, the trio gathered with family and friends at Mission Australia’s Wattle House, which provides support services for people facing significant life challenges. From there, they were all transported by bus to the graduation venue, with several past and present Catalyst students coming along to cheer the women on.

Catalyst Clemente is a free educational program for people who have experienced significant barriers to education. Now run from five Mission Australia sites in partnership with educational institutions, it was established in Western Australia in 2008 in association with Edith Cowan University and sponsored by Woodside Energy. Weekly lectures, which are held at Wattle House, are supplemented by one learning evening each week.

The three Catalyst graduates all agreed that the program had been a journey in self-empowerment.

“I feel like I used to float through life,” said Beverley. “I didn’t have direction, whereas now I know what I want and I now have the avenue to get there.”

Two of the graduates plan to pursue further study at ECU, while the other is studying Community Services at TAFE.

Mission Australia’s WA Catalyst Coordinator Mario Gomes was invited to be the occasional speaker at the graduation event. He thanked ECU for its commitment to the program and urged the graduates to give back to the community no matter what career, profession or business they planned to pursue.

In his well-received address, Mario fondly spoke of the “students, who are the real stars of the program. Their commitment and persistence in the face of all adversity is truly inspirational”.

One student, he told guests, was a young mother of three when she enrolled. She gave birth to her fourth child during her studies and then attended lectures with her baby in the pram.

“Another student,” Mario added, “is a grandmother who had battled through self-doubt and health issues while the third is a sole parent of three children who also overcame personal obstacles to reach this amazing milestone.”

“It was an excellent opportunity to speak about the program and the inspirational stories of the students,” Mario said this week. “As I reminded graduates on the day, ‘Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars’.”

Above image courtesy of Phillips & Father

Melbourne's Catalyst Clemente students celebrate

Proud family members, friends, educators and Mission Australia staff recently joined students of Catalyst Clemente Melbourne to celebrate the end of the educational program's final semester for 2010.

Ten students who studied the Introduction to Sociology unit marked the completion of a challenging and exciting semester, with one graduating with a Certificate in Liberal Studies on completion of four semesters.

Recent graduate Stephanie said that apart from all the written pieces, assessments and theory, Catalyst Clemente had changed her life and will definitely transform her future for the better.

Catalyst Clemente is a free educational program for people who have experienced significant barriers to education. It is run from eight Mission Australia sites in partnership with educational institutions, including the Australian Catholic University (ACU).

At the celebration, ACU Lecturer Sue Rechter shared the unique contribution of each of the students, and was then presented with a rose plant to remember them by.

Ms Rechter said she loved coming to the Monday afternoon lectures because, of all the students she taught, those in the Catalyst Clemente program were her "favourites".

Grant Levy, a first-time Learning Partner from Lander and Rogers Lawyers, said he found his experience with Catalyst Clemente both challenging and rewarding.

Although students are taking a break from lectures and Learning Partner sessions until March, they remain excited at their prospects within and beyond the program.

Above photo:  Semester two students, December 2010

Past news - Catalyst Clemente

Back by popular demand - Mission Australia's Winter Sleepout

Mission Australia Winter Sleepout 2010:  2-8 August

Australians have been supporting the Mission Australia Winter Sleepout for over 20 years.

Ever since our first Winter Sleepout in 1988, thousands of people across the nation have shown support for homeless Australians by giving up their own warm beds in the height of winter to raise funds for homeless services.

The Winter Sleepout has proven to be an easy, interactive and fun way to raise awareness and much needed funds to support Mission Australia’s homeless services.

While there will be no ‘public event’ this year, we are encouraging Australians to get a group together and organise their own individual sleepout and be rewarded with sponsorship from family and friends.


While we are encouraging sleepouts to take place during National Homeless Persons Week, August 2nd - 8th, participants may choose to sleepout at any time during winter.

Why not get a group of co-workers, family and friends together and sleep-out in your office or back yard?

There are 105,000* homeless Australians who could do with your support, so call (07) 3394 8136 or email PerovicP@missionaustralia.com.au to order your ‘Winter Sleepout Toolkit’ or check out our website at www.wintersleepout.com.au and start organising your own sleepout today!

*ABS 2008. Counting the Homeless, 2006. Australian Census Analytic Program. 

Milestone for the Catalyst Clemente program

Left to Right:  Alex Prudnicki, Jeanne-Marie Thomasz (Manager MA), Nerissa Blake, Susan Ash (Associate Professor ECU), Anita Welsh, Mario Gomes (Catalyst Coordinator, MA), Tasha La Mer.  Photography by Phillips & Father  

Mission Australia’s Catalyst Clemente (Catalyst) program provides tertiary education in arts and the humanities to assist marginalised people escape cycles of poverty and homelessness.

Catalyst reached a memorable milestone when four of its students graduated from the 2009 program.

On the 31st January Alex Prudnicki, Anita Welsh, Nerissa Blake and Tasha La Mer received their certificates during the formal Edith Cowan University (ECU) Graduation Ceremony at the Perth Convention Centre. Three of these graduates are enrolled for further tertiary study at ECU in 2010.

The graduates were supported on the night by fellow students, family and friends, staff and academia from Mission Australia, Woodside, ECU and Curtin University. Claire Brown, the original program co-ordinator from ECU also travelled from interstate to see the students graduate.

True to its name, the program has proven for another year that it can be a catalyst for change and social inclusion.

Through the learning of the arts and humanities, students are empowered to think about and reflect on the world in which they live. In turn, this intellectual engagement can promote a broader re-engagement with society, and encourage students to take action in their own lives - as seen in recent survey responses from the students:

“My confidence – I have posture. I smile more. I have goals now that I’d like to meet. I’m not as ashamed. Now I feel my life has a purpose. It has given me self worth.”

“It has given me a new and different attitude towards education and myself.”

Their stories are evidence of the empowerment and hope that opportunities like this can provide.

Mission Australia now offers Catalyst in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The program is also offered by other community services agencies in NSW (Sydney, Newcastle and Campbelltown), Ballarat (VIC) and Canberra.

The graduation event is a commendable achievement for the four graduates, acknowledged with immense pride by all who have been involved in developing and delivering Catalyst Clemente in WA. It also provides tremendous encouragement and motivation for the students who are currently engaged in the program.

New University program a catalyst for change for disadvantaged South Australians

A new partnership between Flinders University and Mission Australia will promote learning and self-confidence among a group of disenfranchised and marginalised South Australians.

The relationship – formalised in an agreement to be signed by both parties today – brings to Flinders University the internationally acclaimed Catalyst Clemente (Catalyst) program.

Mission Australia State Director, Jillian Paull and Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Barber will sign the agreement at Mission Australia’s State Office today.

Ms Paull said Catalyst would begin in South Australia with around 12 participants sourced from Mission Australia services and other local organisations such as Housing SA and Families SA.

She said Catalyst had proved valuable in increasing the social and economic participation of disadvantaged Australians since it was introduced in NSW in 2005.

“Catalyst helps students identify new possibilities for their lives – possibilities they may have believed were out of their reach,” Ms Paull said.

“The idea behind Catalyst is that poverty is more than just exclusion from material goods – it’s also about social exclusion.

“The way out of poverty is to give people access to more than just a wage or vocational training - it’s about engaging them in activities that lead to social interaction, learning and community participation.

“Catalyst uses the arts and humanities – such as literature, drama – to do just that. It builds participants’ self-esteem and creates a feeling of community engagement.”

Professor Barber said Flinders University was pleased to be the South Australian partner in the program.

South Australia’s first class of Catalyst students will enrol in a “Short Stories and Their Writers” subject to be offered at Noarlunga Centre.

Students will be required to attend once a week for 12 weeks for the short stories lecture and tutorial and a 90-minute learning and counselling session with their mentors. A complementary IT course will also be offered.

Each participant who successfully completes the subject will receive a certificate of completion. Those who complete four subjects will receive non-award certificates from Flinders University.

“This program is an example of how looking for new ways to deal with social problems – and the collaboration between community agencies that results from innovative thinking – can achieve significant results for people who may otherwise not have access to services most of us take for granted,” Professor Barber said.

“The potential of education, including higher education, to change lives is well accepted, and we are satisfied South Australia’s Catalyst program will lead to similar successful outcomes as have been achieved elsewhere.”

Ms Paull said Catalyst Clemente began in New York in 1997.

“The founder, Earl Shorris, believed that tertiary-level education in the humanities could assist socially disenfranchised or marginalised people out of cycles of poverty and homelessness,” she said.

“Humanities subjects are used because they require people to think about, become engaged in and reflect on what they are learning and how it relates to the world in which they live.”

More than 150 students in NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria have been exposed to tertiary-level subjects including Australian history, philosophy, Australian literature, art history, politics and media since Catalyst began in Australia in 2005.

Ms Paull said many of the students had achieved credits, distinctions and high distinctions, and some had been motivated to enrol in fulltime university study.

“The success of the program proves that for many people, all it takes is a start for their lives to be transformed,” she said.

Catalyst Clemente students have much to celebrate

Mission Australia's Catalyst Clemente program in Melbourne recently held its end-of-year celebration, marking the close of a challenging and inspiring semester studying Art History and Design Theory.

For two students in particular, there was even more cause to celebrate as they became the first two Catalyst Clemente students in Melbourne to graduate with a Certificate in Liberal Studies from the Australian Catholic University (ACU).

The Catalyst Clemente program assists disadvantaged students through their tertiary education. Offered in partnership with ACU the program provides a supported study environment, with extra guidance provided by volunteers on a weekly basis.  For more information on this unique service download the latest Social Policy Report:  Enhancing participation: New possibilities for disadvantaged Australians - click here.

As the first graduates of the program, the two young students have much to celebrate - one mentioned that Catalyst Clemente has helped her through difficult times over the last two years, but provides a key goal to focus on. She will take up studies in 2010 having recently enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts program at university, and hopes to study sociology.  The other student is transferring into training in Landscape Architecture and looks forward to building his career in that field.

Catayst-Clemente program - For further reading click here

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A touching highlight of the celebration was the poem recital from one student, expressing her thoughts of Catalyst Clemente:

Catalyst Clemente

Is a journey away

From the disadvantages

Of every day

With learning partners

And ACU staff

And Mission Australia

The work’s cut in half

Four units in all

That’s all it takes

To learn essay writing

And iron out mistakes

It’s education

That keeps on going

For adult people

Who keep on growing

‘Til one day we’ll sit

Upon a chair

In a bachelor degree

All going somewhere

As the tree is formed

So the twig is bent

This Catalyst Clemente

Is heaven sent

Youth think outside of the box with Artstart 2009

As part of the NSW Government's Artstart 2009 initiative, Mission Australia has provided school students across the Kiama region with the opportunity to provide Mission Australia's Donation Bins an artistic 'makeover'.

Artstart 2009 is managed through local councils and aims to encourage youth aged 12 to 24 to design and direct creative projects with the assistance of community service organisations like Mission Australia.

The students involved used Mission Australia's donation bins as the 'canvas' for their designs. Kiama Municipal Council's senior youth worker, Andrew Chatfield, said as part of the creative process, teachers at each school integrated the project into visual arts studies, enabling them to completely manage the project's design.

The students have redecorated the bins following the theme of Mission Australia's Big Heart Stores - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - and have come up with some fantastic murals and designs to emphasise the theme.

"The project gave the young people taking part an opportunity to express their creativity, build self esteem, and develop leadership and teamwork skills, while being involved in a worthwhile cause to promote and educate people of all ages on the importance on recycling, reducing, reusing," Mr Chatfield said.

We hope that the Kiama community will support the project by helping us fill the six bins before they are collected by Mission Australia and distributed throughout the region.

The students' artworks/donations bins are on display in their usual locations for anyone donating unwanted clothing, shoes and blankets to Mission Australia.  Check out our bin locations at his link

Ron Paul's views on homeschooling

Again, very complimentary with Catholic Social Teaching:

Many parents of home schooled children are likely wondering how the 2008 Presidential Candidates are feeling about the issue of home schooling. Many of the candidates have not made a formal statement regarding home schooling, perhaps because many of them think the issue is not as pertinent as other issues.

However, Ron Paul has voiced his opinion on home schooling. He calls it a “practical alternative” for families. He strongly supports the issue and option of home schooling in America and puts such a strong emphasis on it, one wonders why the other candidates haven’t mentioned their takes on this interesting educational issue ...

The reason Ron Paul agrees home schooling is an important part of American education is because he believes parents should have more control over the education of their children. He wants to take home schooling incentives even further by advancing tax credits via the Family Education Freedom Act. This would allow parents to use more of their own income for their home schooling efforts. He vows to protect home schooling parents by promising “federal monies must never be used to undermine the rights of homeschooling parents”. [source]