School Business Community Partnership Broker Program
The Smith Family is a facilitating partner in the Australian Government's School Business Community Partnership Broker Program in six regions across Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
The School Business and Community Partnerships Program recognises the importance of relationships and aims to develop connections and build partnerships that will provide whole of community support to improve education and transition outcomes for all young people.
The program aims to lift the current Year 12 (or equivalent) attainment rate from 75.9 percent* to 90 percent by 2015.This provides a unique opportunity for The Smith Family to deepen and broaden our impact on the lives of disadvantaged children and their families.
Drawing from our experience working in and with communities, our staff will broker partnerships to foster a strategic, whole-of-community approach that supports young people's learning and development.
The partnership brokers work together with four key groups - Education and Training providers, Business and Industry, Parents and Families, and Community Groups - to improve education outcomes and ensure all students remain engaged with education and make a successful transition from Secondary School.
Education and Training providers are partnered with relevant stakeholders to support all young people to participate in relevant and engaging learning that broadens personal aspirations and improves education and transition outcomes (such as transitioning successfully from school to the workplace). Learning is enhanced to include real-world experience, drawing on expertise that extends beyond the classroom to cater for different learning styles, while also recognising alternative learning, such as community and workplace experience.
Partnership brokers also work with Business and Industry to create meaningful connections with students. These connections acknowledge the shared responsibility for learning, and provide mentoring and work experience opportunities - increasing the understanding of the skills and knowledge required for the future workforce and improving school-to-workplace transitions.
Parents and Families are provided with the information and support needed to enable lifelong learning and encourage career and post school pathway planning. By supporting learning inside and outside the classroom as well as facilitating access to supportive networks and services, parents and families are empowered to help their children to pursue their chosen careers.
Community Groups are engaged to harness resources, build social capital, and provide opportunities for all young people to be further connected with their community.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) has developed the School Business Community Partnership Broker Program as part of the Australian Government's commitment to providing opportunities and support for all young Australians to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to gain employment and participate effectively in society.