More children benefit from CESA scholarships
News
Nearly 500 children and young people in care are now benefiting from a scholarship program offered by Catholic schools.
The partnership between the Department for Child Protection (DCP) and Catholic Education SA (CESA) has grown steadily since it began almost four years ago.
The scholarships allow children and young people in care to attend Catholic schools fee-free and also includes uniforms, textbooks, excursions and extracurricular activities for the duration of a student’s schooling.
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 accepts 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 to year 12.
Last month during Child Protection Week, the Minister for Child Protection Katrine Hildyard visited St John Bosco School in Brooklyn Park where she met with principal Kate Turner and Rachel Smith, a carer.
Rachel said the young girl in her care was enrolled as a pre-schooler in the ‘Little Boscos’ last year.
“She struggles with new environments and doesn’t like a lot of change,” Rachel said.
“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.”
Ms Turner said the St John Bosco community took pride in the strong partnerships it has 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,” she said.
“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.”
Minister Hildyard said the partnership with CESA had become an “overwhelmingly positive force” for children and young people in care.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
CESA executive director Neil McGoran said by removing the barriers and making a Catholic education accessible there were now 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,” he said.
“As Catholic educators this is at the heart of what we set out to achieve.”
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