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.

MA Housing offers new affordable rental housing in Victoria

MA Housing is currently looking for tenants for some exciting new affordable housing properties in Dandenong, Victoria.

The apartments will be offered to eligible households at 80% of market rent, under the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS). At least one member of the household must be employed. (Therefore units are generally not suitable for those on the social housing waiting list).

Eligibility is determined partly on household earnings. Maximum annual earnings range from $42,718 for a single person to $101,561 for a couple with three children.

The properties
The properties are brand new one and two-bedroom apartments in Hutton St Dandenong. These high quality apartments all have balconies and one under cover car space each. Apartments are just metres from Dandenong Central Business District and Dandenong train station.

Weekly rents range from $200 to $276 per week.

If you know someone who is in need of low-cost rental housing, please encourage them to contact MA Housing for more information.

Contact
Ken Parkin, Senior Housing Manager
Phone: 0439 576 542
Email: ParkinKe@mahousing.com.au

This is a rare opportunity to obtain great accommodation at an affordable price. Units are available NOW and won’t last long.

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