Grant strengthens Fairbridge college student attendance

PIC: Bigstock

A Lotterywest grant has helped buy two new buses to transport disadvantaged and at-risk young students to Fairbridge College.

Youth Minister Peter Tinley and Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke presented the $145,000 grant to Fairbridge College, who will use the money to update student transport.

 

Fairbridge College said the bus service was an important key in maintaining student attendance at the college. The grant will fund the replacement of two smaller buses and provide the capability to transport up to 132 students to the college.

 

Now in its third year of operation, Fairbridge College has 85 students who are picked up and dropped off from a number of designated points between Fairbridge and Mandurah.

 

Youth Minister Peter Tinley said Fairbridge was an important school to get behind.

 

"Fairbridge WA offers an alternative pathway to education and training, and the opportunity for its students to develop personally and socially," he said. 

 

“The State Government is currently developing policy to support young Western Australians through a broader whole-of-government and whole-of-community approach.

 

“The value of education cannot be underestimated, and appropriate interventions at the right point in a young person’s school life can greatly increase their chances of completing secondary education.”

 

By December 2018, at least 15 students will have completed a Certificate I in Leadership as well as a trade certificate. Other students are completing school traineeships in hospitality and work experience in carpentry as they work towards securing full-time employment.

 

Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke also welcomed the funding.

 

“Fairbridge WA provides support to its students to help them achieve success that may not always be possible in mainstream education," she said. 

 

“This grant is a fantastic boost that will help further support our disadvantaged at-risk youth."

 

Since 1997, the State Government has approved 21 Lotterywest grants totalling $4,392,996 to Fairbridge WA.

 

The funding enabled a number of improvements of its facilities including upgrading and increasing the accommodation available to Aboriginal students and apprentices, and also supporting a vacation care program and a women’s development and leadership program.

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