Our Objectives​

To build our collective understanding of the evidence base that enables schools and community services to support student engagement at all levels (Tiers 1-3), with a focus on our most vulnerable and disadvantaged students.

To operate an evidence-based, sustainable flexible learning program (Project REAL) for a smaller proportion of students who require more complex and intensive services and supports. This option will be considered when all other options for Tier 3 learning have been exhausted, and when the student has a complex history of disengagement or exclusion from school, and weak integration into mainstream support services.

To identify opportunities for innovation, service integration and alliance building that in turn enables us to expand our knowledge base, skills, and service reach that meets the needs of our partner schools and community organisations. This will include functional alliances and partnerships with local and international Universities (eg Monash University, Melbourne University) and partnerships with Education groups and foundations (eg CREATE, Berry Street, Hands-On-Learning, Royal Children’s Hospital, DPV etc).

To use Project REAL and our work with local schools as engines of co-designed professional development about student engagement, with the explicit aim of identifying evidence of successful school engagement practices that can inform and influence government decision making and policy development.

To co-design and implement high quality evaluation practices that support our understanding of student engagement in schooling, and that school support practices than enable school capability development for ‘at risk’ students.