PROJECTS

Education

 

Every Child. Every Day.

Western Port Education Precinct

The Western Port Education Precinct brings together MPF’s three lead projects in education and is the culmination of many small grants and much work on the ground by the principals and teachers of the local secondary and primary schools.

No Limits
No Limits addresses low rates of oral language in children entering kinder and preparatory year and aims to improve oral language such that children are ready to learn to read and write and are reading to learn by the end of year 2. No Limits is MPF’s largest program, working with six Peninsula primary schools and their feeder kinders, including those in Western Port. It is a three year program (2019 – 2021) that will involve over 700 children. It provides speech therapy assessment and intervention and is integrated into the kinder and school daily programs through the training of teachers and support staff. No Limits links oral language and reading and writing through a unified approach based on the science or language and reading.
The Learning Guarantee

The Learning Guarantee Program (LGP) addresses very low rates of readiness for secondary school. Our WPEP schools have identified low levels in reading and writing on the one hand and the impact of trauma due to adverse childhood experiences on the other as key factors. In combination these conditions rapidly reduce a child’s development and their ability to learn. When this is recognised for what it is, rather than as deviant, defiant or obstructive behaviour, and when teachers are trained in emerging science based programs, children can be supported back onto a path of learning. The LGP enters year 2 in 2021 with significant support from the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust which will allow the continuation of the teaching interventions and the inclusion of enhanced wellbeing support. The LGP will work with upper primary children in the two current primary schools with a view to expanding this to more of the feeder primaries in the area.

Elevate

Elevate is the third component of WPEP and is generously supported by the Hugh Williamson Foundation. Elevate focuses on high absentee and early school leaving rates and seeks to change this by incorporating teaching practices and philosophies successfully employed at Oakwood School, an alternative setting established by the DET to accommodate students excluded from mainstream. With a view that a secondary school should accommodate the learning needs of all students, Western Port Secondary is focusing on the gaps in reading and writing and acknowledgement of trauma as a driver of disengagement (consistent with No Limits and LGP). Elevate enters year 2 in 2021 and will work intensely with students at the very disengaged end and with the whole school to create sustained and fundamental change through training in science based language and reading and trauma informed practice as well as structural changes that streamline communications and actions and data management that informs in real time.

MPF also supports a number of smaller education projects including:
  • Literacy Support at Tyabb Railway Station Primary
  • HealthyEats@Wallaroo Primary
  • After School Tutoring at Eastbourne Primary
  • The Feuerstein Program at Advance Community College
  • A school bus at Mornington Park Primary
  • Transition scholarships at over 15 primary and secondary schools
  • Discretionary support at Hastings Primary

Homelessness

Homelessness was highlighted as a significant but hidden issue when MPF started work with the local communities in 2017. With mainstream services based in Frankston or Dandenong, a number of volunteer and minimally resourced small nfps had formed organically to try to meet the complex needs of people who were ‘at the end of the road’ literally and metaphorically. Lack of data was a major issue as there was no real understanding of the numbers of people involved or the situations they were in. 

MPF has worked with local agencies to better understand the situation and in funding a number of locally drive programs has amassed a set of data which is beginning to describe the complexity of the issue and to assist in planning a way forward. As an issue that impacts the whole community it is of great concern to the MP Shire which is now partnering with MPF to use the data combined with insights into the layers and set ups of government structures, services and policies to test new strategies with a view to fundamental systems change.

This work will involve greater use of new technology to assist in data management and communications and is a great example of philanthropy and local government working together to combine assets and insights towards a common goal.

The programs currently funded by MPF include:

Assertive Outreach and SPLASH
Southern Peninsula Community Support Centre provides emergency relief for people experiencing acute vulnerability. This support extends beyond the service site on Port Nepean Road Rosebud as outreach to people who are homeless via the SPLASH and Assertive Outreach programs. Funded by a collection of MPF donors, SPLASH provides biweekly connection for people who are rough sleeping, in rooming houses, in cars, etc. With a meal and opportunity to shower and wash clothes, the program offers and opportunity for personal connection for people who are often intensely isolated. These connections can lead to engagement with services that in turn can support longer term change. To enhance this work, SPCSC has recently started the Assertive Outreach Program which builds on the work of SPLASH and extends the connections through intensive case management that supports people who want to engage through the many steps towards greater housing stability.
Western Port Housing and Homelessness
The Western Port Housing and Homelessness program operates from the Western Port Community Support Centre in High St Hastings and also provides intensive case management. Clients vary more widely than in the Rosebud programs as they may be at risk of homelessness, recently homeless or long term homeless. Assistance is flexible and client directed. Experienced case managers collaborate with the wider services network to ensure as much support as possible is available to clients.
Private Rental Assistance Program (PRAP)
Run by the New Pen Community Care, PRAP works with people who are at risk of homelessness and are in private rental. With unexpected shocks or a series of compounding events, there are many avenues to homelessness and the earlier they are identified and supported, the greater the chance of averting this situation. PRAP works closely with real estate agents to support their needs too and finds that the mutual understandings that can be developed between business and individuals greatly contributes to the very high rates of securing housing that are being achieved by this program.
MPF constantly provides community development small grants to a wide range of community groups as part of our bigger strategy for systemic social change. We are always open to ideas from community members.

Our Featured Project: No Limits

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We are constantly active on the Peninsula and meet community agencies and donor partners in situ on a regular basis. Please contact us with any enquiries or if you would like to contribute in any way.

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