IT’S often said that it takes a village to raise a child and dozens of organisations and agencies helped set up Swan Hill’s Flexible Learning Options (FLO) campus.
Swan Hill Rural City Council youth support officer Kane Sparks said there were numerous conversations about young people at risk who were falling through the gaps and weren’t suited to mainstream education.
Mr Sparks, who was involved in preparing the council’s first five-year youth strategy in 2009 and 2010, said school data showed significant increases in absenteeism which is an indicator of growing disengagement.
“And then in our consultations we had direct requests from young people who were struggling with the pressure of mainstream schooling,” he said.
“It was a really good process to be able to support young people in their needs at that time, collectively as a service cohort, and be able to find something that still gives them opportunity to succeed and stay at school and stay connected.”
Mr Sparks said FLO was succeeding because it empowered students to make decisions and set a clear direction for their future.
“For a lot of these young people, they’ve probably got limited support outside of school, so the good thing with FLO is it gives them a wide range of different options moving forward,” he said.
“They’re looking at different career possibilities and they look at basic life skills as well. It’s all the things that will enhance the young person’s opportunity to succeed and that’s what’s important.”
Key stakeholders to the project include Murray Mallee Local Learning and Employment Network, School Focused Youth Service, Youth Inc, SuniTAFE, Victoria Police, Youth Affairs Council Victoria, Swan Hill District Health’s Health Promotions Department and headspace.
Service organisations that have lent their support include Swan Hill Rotary Club, Swan Hill Lions Club, Sunrise Rotary, Inner Wheel Club of Swan Hill and Swan Hill Business and Professional Women.
