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
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
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