On Tuesday morning local Indigenous children and young people, identified as at risk, were left on the side of roads in the Northern Rivers waiting for transport (that wasn’t coming) to their youth mentoring program.
‘One child who was not picked up for school with One Mob Youth Mentoring (this is in no way related to One Mob Youth Mentoring Program based in Queensland) on Tuesday from his pick-up point, was left abandoned, he was not told he was not going to school that day by the Department of Education (DET). That child wandered the streets looking for something to do with parents unaware of where he was,’ parents told The Echo.
After numerous calls to teachers and the Department of Education the parents and guardians began to build the picture that the program was being cut back.
The program, run through the local service providers in conjunction with the Department of Education, had failed to inform parents, guardians, or students that the program would be moving from a face-to-face model to an online program and that Thursday, August 1 would be the last day of the program.
The youth mentoring program works with children and young people who have not been successful in the traditional school system by mentoring them and assisting them to continue their education.
‘My son is halfway through year ten,’ explained parent Caroline Wilson.
‘These are children who have already had negative experiences with different agencies and One Mob has a history of acting as a buffer with the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). These are our most vulnerable children who are usually stages behind in education for whatever reason and digital literacy is minimal. Children in places like Tabulum, Box Ridge and Bulguma, Casino, Kyogle, Tweed, Lismore, and Grafton.’
According to what parents have discovered so far, DET is downsizing to minimal teachers behind desks. Parents and guardians have not been formally informed and were left to call around to find out if this was true.
‘The rumour is that they are going to make it online – but most kids don’t have computers or the internet,’ explained Ms Wilson.
‘Some are so disadvantaged they sleep on the floor, they don’t have a bedroom or a desk to work at.
‘Sometimes they are being cared for by extended family. Not having that face-to-face contact will mean that it won’t be feasible for them to continue their education. They are already kids who have disengaged – they have re-engaged through this program and have been building these relationships with their mentors over months and years. Without that they are unlikely to continue and have the benefit of this early intervention program being effective.
‘This program has been running for almost 20 years successfully and has put a lot of children through high school,’ she explained.
‘They have to be at risk and vulnerable to access the program, and they use oral, physical and cultural practices and programs to help these kids through high school and into work.
‘This is a step backwards for “Closing the Gap” in Northern NSW. It is very disappointing,’ said Ms Wilson.
‘The community is left wondering what the DET has set up for these young people, that cannot cope within the “normal” education setting due to whatever their past traumas or conditions, going forward?
‘With at-risk children wandering the streets together, feeling abandoned and with nothing to do, you can guarantee an increase in community unrest.’
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