Geelong Advertiser
Future Focus Geelong
Following the success of our Future Focus program for Years 7 and 8 students transitioning to secondary school in NW Metro Melbourne, we launched the program in Geelong – one of the most disadvantaged suburbs in Victoria. One of the program participants spoke to the Geelong Advertiser about his experiences of participating in the program.
ABC Radio Melbourne Evenings. Listen again HERE.
Cadetship
Doxa CEO, Steve Clifford, and Cadet Alumnus, Brendan Lawley, were interviewed by Lindy Burns on ABC Radio Melbourne Evenings about the Cadetship program.
Doxa supports youth of Geelong with launch of Future Focus program across secondary schools
The experiences of students and the progress of their learning are critical considerations when children move from primary to secondary school.
For Victorian not-for-profit youth organisation, Doxa, this is an important aspect of a young person’s life and will be made easier for the youth of Geelong when the Future Focus transitional program launches across a number of secondary schools in May.
Off the back of successful Future Focus campaigns in metro Melbourne schools, Doxa will launch the program across multiple Geelong schools this month.
According to data released in 2015, Geelong students live in some of the most disadvantaged Victorian suburbs when it comes to education, literacy and numeracy, unskilled work, long-term unemployment, and juvenile offending[1]
Responding to the shortage of early secondary school programs for vulnerable students in Geelong, Future Focus is a two-year program for students in year seven and eight that offers support in transitioning from primary to secondary school through personal, study, and leadership skills.
Adopted by Geelong High School, Northern Bay College, Bellarine Secondary College and Newcomb Secondary College students, the program will also provide knowledge and skills to cope with more sensitive issues such as bullying, peer pressure, drugs, alcohol, stress, and mental health issues.
“With school retention rates for regional Victorian students approximately 20% lower than their metropolitan counterparts and Geelong youth living in some of the most disadvantaged suburbs when it comes to education, we knew we needed to do more to help develop life skills and combat disadvantage here in Geelong,” Said Steve Clifford, Doxa’s Chief Executive Officer
As part of the Future Focus program, students will also participate in a residential weekend at Doxa’s camp in Malmsbury and four half-day in-school leadership workshops, culminating in a certificate and awards night at the end of each year.
Since the organisation was established in 1972, Doxa has supported thousands of disadvantaged youth throughout Victoria, ensuring all young people have access to positive life experiences, education opportunities and employment pathways.
“We want to support all young people in making positive decisions in their lives. Whether that’s staying in education or entering into a vocational pathway, the most important part is that these young people are engaged, connected and become decision makers for their future,” said Steve Clifford.
The Geelong Future Focus program is funded by Give Where You Live Geelong and the Perpetual Trust.
About Doxa
Doxa is a Victorian not-for-profit organisation that provides programs for disadvantaged young people so that they can access positive life experiences, education opportunities and employment pathways. Doxa has been around since 1972 and their programs support over 7,300 young Victorians – typically aged eight to 24 years old – each year. Every young person they interact with has a different set of life circumstances. Doxa’s aim is to ensure that all young people enjoy enriching experiences and educational opportunity and advancement.
– ENDS –
For media enquiries on behalf of Doxa, please contact
Progressive PR & Communications
03 9696 6417
Darren Saffin / Jodie Artis
0411 089 209 / 0414 699 186
darren@progressivepr.com.au / jodie@progressivepr.com.au
[1] Dropping off the Edge: Jesuit Social Services: 2015
The Educator Australia (Online)
Future Focus Geelong, University Pathways Program
Doxa CEO Steve Clifford was interviewed about Doxa’s work in disadvantaged schools in Victoria. He discussed the new Future Focus Geelong program, our University Pathways Program and the importance of working with schools to achieve outcomes for disadvantaged young people.
ABC Radio National “Life Matters” show. Listen again HERE.
Cadetship
Doxa CEO, Steve Clifford, and Cadet Alumnus, Brendan Lawley, were interviewed by Amanda Smith on Radio National ‘Life Matters’ show about the Cadetship program and mentoring.
WinTV Bendigo, Ballarat, Gippsland, Shepparton, Albury & Canberra.
Journey Program
WinTV came out to Kooyoora State Park to interview our Malmsbury Camp Manager, Jess Case, and students from Western English Language School who were participating in Doxa’s Journey Program – a multi-day trekking program to build teamwork, resilience, connection to country.
Bendigo & District Aboriginal Cooperative Smoking Ceremony at Malmsbury Camp
“In this time, I have seen and experienced the amazing work that Doxa does for young people in our community, and now I am proud to say that we are working towards reconciliation with the community in the development of our first ever RAP.”
A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a formal statement of commitment to reconciliation. There are four different types of RAP; Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate. Even though we are still in the developmental stages our first RAP, Reconciliation Australia has advised us to move from a ‘reflect’ RAP to an ‘innovate’ RAP. Although this may seem like a small feat it is cause for celebration. This advancement marks Doxa’s first accomplishment in reconciliation. We have observed and evaluated our level of cultural competency and have acknowledged that significant work needs to be done at Doxa to welcome more ATSI staff and program participants, increase our collective knowledge and to push for reconciliation within our sphere of influence.
Program Participants at our Malmsbury camp
In the five years that I have been with Doxa I have been able to experience both sides of the company, as both a program participant and an employee. Being the first Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Program participant, and one of the only current Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander employees I have felt relatively alone at Doxa.
“With no representation and little understanding of my culture, I will be honest and say that at times I have found it tough to find that sense of belonging that some of my peers have benefited from.”
I acknowledge that some gestures have been made at Doxa to change this but it’s important that these are done with good intention and genuine commitment to reconciliation and are not merely tokenistic. Tokenism is something we see a lot of in society and it’s not helpful. That’s why we need a RAP. By committing to a RAP, Doxa is committing to becoming an environment where Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young peoples feel welcome, safe and valued, with our culture recognised, understood and celebrated. And that’s a really important place to be.
Doxa is working towards ensuring that Indigenous young peoples feel safe and supported
While our RAP is still in the developmental stages, it has already had an immense impact upon the organisation. We have been able to implement changes and raise awareness about not only Doxa’s but our staff and participants cultural . Cultural awareness training for all staff has been booked and has already started the conversations around reconciliation. Staff have also stated that they have been engaging in conversations and activities with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples outside of work.
“While this may not seem like much, a conversation is where true reconciliation must begin.”
In creating and committing to a RAP Doxa has taken that first step towards reconciliation. Now, our journey is well underway and those first few steps have started us on our march, with each step paving the way for others to follow.
AMT Magazine
Cadetship
Doxa is seeking to partner with businesses across Victoria as part of its flagship employment pathways Cadetship program.
Herald Sun (also syndicated in the Brisbane Courier and Adelaide Advertiser)
Cadetship
Doxa CEO, Steve Clifford, and Cadet Alumni, Shelley Fenech, and external program facilitators speak to NewsCorp about the challenges facing school leavers.
Victorian not-for-profit, Doxa is seeking to partner with businesses across Victoria as part of their flagship employment pathways Cadetship Program.
Doxa has selected 12 business-minded young achievers from a diverse range of backgrounds for Cadetship. These individuals are motivated, talented, tenacious and have overcome enormous barriers in their pursuit to stay engaged in education. 44% are studying a STEM subject at university, 29% are studying Business, 13% Finance, 9% Law and 5% an Arts degree.
This CSR-aligned social investment opportunity offers Program Partners a talented undergraduate as part of their team; skilled volunteering opportunities for existing staff; and a chance to change the life of a high-achieving young Australian from a disadvantaged background.
Doxa supports Cadetship Program Partners by providing a shortlist of talented applicants relevant to their sector; building a learning and development framework; providing mentoring; and recruitment support as well as on-boarding advice.
Doxa CEO, Steve Clifford, said that: “We have a diverse range of Cadets all in great need. 51% live off a family income of below $30,000 per annum, 24% are refugees/newly arrived migrants, 18% come from rural/regional areas. These young people are experiencing significant disadvantage. They don’t have the social capital, financial support or professional networks that you and I had.”
“What they do have is the skills, growth mindset and incredible drive to succeed in business and in life. But they need your help in order to achieve this,” he said.
“We currently have 12 young people left to place this year by mid-April, and that’s why we are calling out for organisations with a focus on STEM, Business, Finance, Law and Arts to partner with us and join us on the journey.”
Since 1993, more than 400 young people have participated in the Doxa Cadetship Program. It is open to Year 12 students transitioning into university and is a three to five-year program, depending on the length of the degree the student is undertaking.
To get involved or for more information on the Doxa Cadetship Program, visit www.doxa.org.au.
Ends.
Media Contact: Belinda Rowse, Public Relations Officer, Doxa
Email: browse@doxa.org.au | Phone: 03 9046 8207
Recent Comments