Regional and remote communities in Western Australia face many challenges such as fewer employment opportunities, high costs of goods and services, poor infrastructure for public transport, communications, housing, insufficient education and educational outcomes, and other unavoidable consequences of living in small and isolated places.
For those residing in the Perth metropolitan area, Western Australians, by and large, are feeling the pressure of wage inequity and a cost-of-living and housing crisis.
On World Compassion Day, 28 November 2024, we reflect on these current challenges and how they can make accessing services for young people difficult and in some cases impossible.
The Y WA, which has a vision to see a better world with and for young people, is rolling out programs across Perth metropolitan and regional WA to combat some of these daily struggles.
The Education, Engagement & Attainment Initiative (EEAI) is a program operating out of Newman that is run by the Y and funded by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA). The initiative provides comprehensive support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families, with a focus on improving school attendance and academic achievement.
Due to a combination of home, school and individual factors, it is a common occurrence for children in remote communities to miss school. As a result, this program’s main goal is to increase attendance rates in schools situated in remote areas, so that all children are provided with quality education to flourish.
Operating on a case-by-case basis, the program covers everything from providing transport, school supplies, stationary, uniforms, lunches, referrals to other services, outreach programs, sporting programs, food, activities and much more.
Unlike traditional approaches, the program extends its assistance beyond the individual student to encompass the entire family unit, so it goes without saying that the two staff from the Y who are running the program have a deep vested interest in the future of the young people and the families residing in the Newman community.
The Y WA CEO Dr Tim McDonald said, “The WA business community can help us in so many ways. Firstly, we need more education on the unique challenges experienced by people and Aboriginal people in remote areas. Secondly, and this is where the WA business community could help, we need more resources such as a larger bus for our team on the ground in Newman. This would allow us to support more children and families.
“Our goal is to increase attendance rates in schools situated in remote areas, so that all children are provided with a quality education to allow them to flourish.”
Operating 14 Early Learning Centres (ELCs) across Western Australia, the Y WA is also working hard to tackle the current childcare shortage. Certain regions in Western Australia are often referred to as "childcare deserts", where demand far exceeds supply.
Eight of the Y WA’s 14 ELCs are in regional areas, and all are dedicated to nurturing young minds and helping children to flourish from a young age. In 2024 the Y WA rolled out their School ReadY program across all 14 centres, a program designed to support 3–5-year-old children giving them the best start to formal schooling and enabling them to flourish both in school and beyond.
School readiness refers to the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed by a child, so that when they commence formal schooling they can successfully engage in learning. In development for over two years, School ReadY draws on research into how children's brains develop and learn in early childhood, to deliver a program that builds the literacy and language, numeracy, and social wellbeing skills necessary for children to flourish in school and beyond.
It is worth noting that the Y WA has taken the bold step to appoint Literacy Specialist Renee Chakaodza to provide ongoing support and coaching to educators as they implement the program.
Data and evidence have shaped the program’s design since its inception, with field trials starting as far back as 2022. This has involved a remarkable team effort, with centre directors and educators collaborating closely with the Y WA research team, as well as lead researchers in their respective fields, to carry out data collection.
“We are already seeing the impacts of this valuable program as we observe our educators engaging with children. At the Y we believe if all children have access to a great start in the areas of literacy and language, numeracy and social and emotional wellbeing, the roll-on effect when they become adults is impactful,” Dr Tim McDonald said.
“School ReadY is giving them access to a tailor-made program which assists them to learn at an early age because unfortunately, when you begin formal schooling and you are developmentally behind, this can have lifelong detrimental impacts.
“The Y WA is dedicated to ensuring children and young people across WA are given the opportunity to grow and flourish in body, mind, and spirit.”
By Hearts and Minds
