A partnership of Victoria University and Harvester Technical College has produced a mentoring program that strengthens students’ engagement in school life and increases their likelihood of staying at school longer.
Victoria University undergraduate youth work students developed the year-long pilot program with 200 year 10 and 11 students at the Sunshine technical school last year.
Associate Professor Robyn Broadbent led the collaborative research project, in which the undergraduate youth work students acted as mentors, organising health and well-being programs, a cooking club, leadership activities and work experience and job-search sessions.
Associate Professor Broadbent said the purpose of the program was to make young people feel connected to the school “because that’s what improves retention”.
Harvester Technical College operates under the auspices of Sunshine College.
In the past the school has attracted students who were failing to complete their education, but it has recently evolved into a vocationally oriented high school offering the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning and Certificate II pre-apprenticeship training.
