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Unique program in Frankston will help young mums to give their children the best start
Freya Lucas
Feb 02, 2022
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Anglicare Victoria will receive $170,000 over the next five years for their Learn Engage Connect program, a unique offering that supports young parents to reconnect with their studies while also being supported with childcare.
Participants in the program bring their children with them to the TAFE classroom four days a week where a family support worker and early childhood educator are available in the classroom to provide childcare, parent mentoring and a facilitated playgroup.Frankston Mornington Peninsula Local Learning Employment Network works with Anglicare Victoria to deliver the Learn Engage Connect program , with CEO Carol Smith saying that in addition to supporting participants to complete the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, the program also provides one-on-one psychosocial support and assistance with developing life skills.
“Results from the past year show Learn Engage Connect helped 86 per cent of participants to improve their parenting skills and confidence and 76 per cent to improve their overall quality of life,” Ms Smith said.
The funding announcement was made recently by Federal Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston, who said the Government is “absolutely committed to supporting parents to give their children the best start in life”.
“The Learn Engage Connect program is specifically designed to support young women overcome challenges while also helping them build a network of other young parents in their community who are facing similar challenges,” Ms Ruston said.
The program is already proving successful, Senator for Victoria Jane Hume explained, helping 42 parents in the Dunkley community undertake education that may not have otherwise been possible.
“The Learn Engage Connect program gives parents the tools to be great parents and the skills to achieve great things in whatever employment or education venture they want to enter into in the future,” she said.
“Not only are these young mums on their way to finishing their schooling but the program is also ensuring their children are thriving, with 75 per cent (of the children in the cohort) already above the cut-off across all five early childhood development domains.”
To learn more about the program please see here.
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