Nearly 500 children and young people in care are now benefiting from a generous scholarship program offered by Catholic schools.
The partnership between the Department for Child Protection (DCP) and Catholic Education SA (CESA) has grown from strength to strength since forming almost four years ago.
The scholarships allow children and young people in care to attend Catholic schools fee free. More than 100 students in care have been offered the scholarships this year alone, which also include uniforms, textbooks, excursions and extracurricular activities, each year for the duration of a student’s schooling.
The program has grown steadily over the past four years. Initially 100 scholarships were offered per year, increasing to 200 and then 400. CESA now offers unlimited scholarships to children and young people in care and will accept applications from all students in care who apply.
The scholarships are offered all year round and available at most of the State’s 101 Catholic schools from reception through to year 12.
On Friday 6 September the Minister for Child Protection, Hon. Katrine Hildyard MP visited St John Bosco School in Brooklyn Park where she met with Principal, Kate Turner and Rachel Smith, a carer. Also in attendance were John Neate, Chair of the South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools (SACCS) and Brady Stallard, a School Performance Leader at CESA.
Katrine Hildyard said, “Engagement in education and feeling a sense of belonging to a supportive school community can be life changing for children and young people, and particularly those facing some really tough times.
“Our partnership with Catholic Education SA has become such an overwhelmingly positive force for children and young people in care. Being supported to engage in a new educational environment can be a circuit breaker.
“The scholarships provide a valuable faith-based education alternative and allow students in care to further their schooling in an environment that works for them with these scholarships often providing children and young people with a crucial fresh start, allowing them to create new friendship groups and encouraging them to focus on their future.
“These scholarships also minimise the burden on household budgets for foster and kinship carers already giving so much through opening their hearts, homes and lives to the children and young people for whom they care.
“Thank you so much to Catholic Education SA and all of the schools involved for living the values of including people who most need support in our human family. I congratulate and offer them my gratitude for their remarkable efforts. We often say that every person and every organisation has a role to play in supporting children and young people in contact with the child protection and family support system. I wholeheartedly thank Catholic Education for playing theirs.”
Neil McGoran, Executive Director, CESA said “When this scholarship program was launched four years ago we were hopeful that we could play a pivotal role in the education of the children and young people who might not ordinarily be able to access a Catholic education. By removing the barriers and making a Catholic education accessible we now have almost 500 children enrolled at Catholic schools. Almost every day I have the privilege of approving a scholarship and this gives me an immense feeling of pride. As Catholic educators this is at the heart of what we set out to achieve.”
Kate Turner, Principal, St John Bosco Primary School said, “At St John Bosco we take pride in the strong partnerships we have with families and carers, ensuring they feel respected, informed and actively engaged in their children’s education from the start.
“The financial support goes beyond school fees to include uniforms, textbooks and the cost of some extracurricular activities to enable children to fully participate in school life. Through regular checks with students, we can monitor their wellbeing and ensure their needs are met. At the heart of our school is a community built on relationships, where everyone is welcome.”
Rachel Smith, carer of a young girl said, “The program is amazing. She started last year in the Little Boscos – normally it lasts for two terms but they took her for the full year. She struggles with new environments and doesn’t like a lot of change. They accommodated her beautifully, so when she started school this year nothing was foreign and she was able to manage her big feelings. She’s in a comfortable place, and the school is phenomenal; they’re really open to new things and really supportive of her therapy.”
Pictured L-R: Brady Stallard, Rachel Smith, John Neate, Kate Turner, Katrine Hildyard
Intergenerational playgroups are truly something special — an experience that enriches the lives of both the young and the older members of our community. These playgroups are more than just a space for children to play; they are a vital platform for different generations to come together, share wisdom, and build meaningful relationships.
