Community solutions for schooling engagement: Two Australian case studies

ABSTRACT

This paper draws together data from two projects on schooling dis/engagement in Australia. One project focused on mainstream schools and the strategies employed to retain and engage young people in learning, whereas the other explored the growing sector of alternative/flexible education for similar solutions. We found interesting parallels. For example, rich, relevant curricula delivered through innovative pedagogies alongside positive staff/student relationships were key elements in schooling engagement across both sectors. Those findings have been published elsewhere. This paper focuses on the contributions to schooling engagement that may be derived from mutually beneficial school/community relationships. Here, we examine one mainstream high school and one flexi secondary school, both situated in remote geolocations, that established bespoke school/community partnerships in response to local needs. The data from each site provide blueprints for other schools that wish to tap into the wealth of human and material support systems in their own local areas.

KEYWORDS:

• Community and schooling
• schooling engagement
• rural and remote schooling
• indigenous communities

Acknowledgments

In completion of this research, we acknowledge the academic collaboration of Associate Professor Wojtek Tomaszewski, The University of Queensland.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. While terminology continues to evolve, at the time of writing this stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual.

2. The research upon which this paper is partly based was funded through a Commonwealth Government Australian Research Council Linkage Grant LP 12010014, Marginalised Students: enhancing life choices through engaging educational policies and practices.

3. https://www.qld.gov.au/youth/family-social-support/youth-support-services

4. The research upon which this paper is partly based was funded through a Queensland Department of Education and Training (now Department of Education) 2016 Horizon Grant for the project: Engaging Schools: What works to keep young people engaged in meaningful learning in low SES schools. We thank the Department for their support. The views expressed here are solely those of the authors.

5. Yarning is an informal conversation that is culturally friendly and recognised by Aboriginal people as meaning to talk about something, someone or provide and receive information. Yarning Circles are designed to allow all students to have their say in a safe space without judgment.

6. https://www.nhvr.gov.au/files/201901-0977-national-class2-b-double-operators-guide.pdf

Additional information

Funding

Funding for these projects was derived from the Australian Research Council and the Department of Education Queensland Queensland Department of Education and Training Horizon Grants;Commonwealth Government Australian Research Council Linkage Grant [LP 12010014];