Berry Street is committed to examining new practices and models of learning so that our young people and their families will be properly equipped to participate fully in community life. We believe that the development and provision of high quality integrated service models is essential for promoting social and economic equality and redressing the poverty and disadvantage experienced by marginalized and ‘at risk’ groups of young people and families.

As part of our commitment to educational reform our organisation over the last five years, in partnership with Banksia Secondary College, has initiated and developed a model of practice and a range of services that demonstrate the effectiveness of the Full Service School model. We have also been active in current debates and reform movements that are exploring the concept.

Our organization perceives the ‘full-service school’ discourse as a critical tool for promoting integrated service systems which will lead to the development of socially just education systems and increased access for all students, including those most ‘at risk’ to a range of health, welfare and other community supports.

The model is premised on the belief that in order for young people to access the benefits of education, schools need to work with their communities and other agencies to remove those obstacles which prevent students from engaging in education, and experiencing it as inclusive and enabling. However as a model, the concept of FSS is still in its infancy. This project will subsequently endeavour to provide a focus for expanding our knowledge and practices across Victoria and nationally of full-service schooling.

The following document will outline a number of strategies that will be undertaken to fulfill our agreement with the Myer Foundation to establish a ‘School Partnership Research Centre’ with Banksia Secondary College. The strategies discussed are consistent with our original proposal, in which we had envisaged establishing a Foundation Centre where we could ‘provide a focus for promoting excellence in the development of relevant Full-Service Schools models throughout Australia’. The plan will enable us to share our expertise with others through professional development and mentoring and to complete a scoping study, which will provide information about other initiatives going on in the field. We will also be able to conduct research to determine its value and applicability in the Australian context. This "clearinghouse" approach will provide a mechanism for continued learning and dialogue and broader promotion of the model across the education and welfare sectors.

Funding from the Myer Foundation has been approved for three years. However, the Myer Board has proposed considering ‘a greater level of support’ following the initial year’s outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this document is to provide a general plan for managing and developing the project over the three years with a particular focus on the range of activities that will be achieved in its first year. It will also outline aims and objectives, a mechanism for managing the project, some proposed terms of reference and the role of the project worker.

1. Provide a focus for expanding our knowledge and skills, across Victoria and nationally, of full-service schooling.
2. To promote the building of inclusive, engaging and enabling school-community-agency linkages
3. To promote the FSS model as an accepted way for schools to relate with their communities
4. To promote and utilise collaborative models of learning and evaluation

• To provide education and training on the concept of a ‘Full-Service’ School which is both critical and theoretically informed.

• To further our understanding and knowledge of other activities which relate to the concept of the ‘full-service school’ through the development of a ‘scoping exercise’.

• To promote and develop a culture which values the development of strategic alliances and joint partnerships in the education, community and business and commerce sectors and document learnings.

• To build on the expertise and experience already developed through the ACEE Full Service School Research Project.

• To provide related support to the schools participating in the ACEE Full Service School Research Project to undertake innovative community projects which link them into shared resources and facilities.

• To provide opportunities for critical thinking and reflection which will enhance our expertise and experience and contribute to the education and welfare fields.

Outcomes that will be achieved are:

• Completion of a scoping exercise determining the range and number of other initiatives going on in the field that relate to the concept of the "Full-Service" School.

• Increased knowledge and awareness in the broader community about the concept of a Full-Service School in the context of developing socially just models of education.

• Development of key strategic alliances, including both government and non-government agencies and the industry and commerce sector.

• Increased opportunities for schools to access community services and supports

• Increased educational opportunities for young people, in particular those young people attending the FSS Research Circle schools

• Improved understanding and skills amongst teachers and community workers for developing community partnerships.

• Increased profile in the community about the work being undertaken by Berry Street and Banksia Secondary College and other schools currently involved in the ACEE FSS Research Circle Project both across Victoria and nationally

• Recognition is given to school and community achievements involved in the Research Circle, including Banksia Secondary College, Woolum Bellum Koorie Open Door Education School, Canadian Lead Primary School and Marion College.

• Considerable progress is made for the FSS model to become an accepted way for schools to relate with their communities

• The Centre become known as a place where information and learning is available

Attached is a workplan identifying key strategies, tasks, timelines and identified outcomes. As agreed this plan primarily concerns itself with the strategies and tasks that need to be undertaken in the first year to market and establish the Project.

Berry Street will manage the project and involve Banksia Secondary College as a key partner to the project. This school has demonstrated expertise in the experience of implementing our approach to the model and have an ongoing commitment to promoting the concept. This education setting will also serve as a "site of practice".

A Reference Group will be established to give expert advice and support to the various initiatives undertaken. Its membership will be decided through various consultations with key government and non-government education and welfare agencies. Our workplan nominates potential organizations to be targeted.

Participants from the Full-Service School Research Circle will also be invited to take part in this group

Our coordinator of Schools Programs, Theresa Lynch, will be the key staff member to the lead the project with additional management and consultative support from our Manager of Community Services and Manager Service Development.

The Reference Group will include persons appointed by Berry Street to

represent key government and non-government education and welfare

agencies, the Full-Service School Research Circle, and to include

persons with expertise relevant to full-service schooling and the

conduct of the project.

Term of membership: Members will be appointed for the life of the

project.

Powers of cooption:

If the Reference Group believes that adding further members would assist the project in its work, it may nominate such persons for membership. Berry Street will consider such nominations and may at its discretion appoint further members.

Sandie de Wolf – Chair (CEO, Berry Street)

Jo Baevski – Myer Family

Pam Jonas – Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce & Industry (VECCI)

Nic Abbey – Department of Justice

Joan Brown – Australian Centre for Equity Through Education

David Huggins - Chairperson Special Education - Catholic Education.Office

Mary Tobin - Catholic Education Office

Stephen Kemmis – Research and Consulting

Margarita Frederico – Berry Street Board Rep.

Viv White – National Schools Network

Gerry Fogarty - Banksia Secondary College

Chris Lepage - Banksia Secondary College.

Karen Cain - Woolum Bellum Koorie Open Door Education School

Johanna Wyn - University of Melbourne

Ann Taylor - Australian Education Union - Vic Branch

Ms Stephanie Lagos - Migrant Resource Centre - North East

Dr. Gill Parmenter - Department of Human Services

Loreta Cotter -Victorian Independent Education Union

Theresa Lynch – Myer Full Service School Coordinator

Sacha Miezis – Berry Street Representative.

Jill Anwyl – .Department of Education, Employment and Training

Meetings: The Reference Group will meet approximately four times per

The role of the Reference Group is to provide advice and support to

Berry Street and its partners in the project and thus to assist Berry

Street and its partners to fulfil the aims and objectives of the

project and to achieve the project outcomes specified in the Project

Brief. The management of the project is the responsibility of Berry

Street and its partners in the project.

The Reference Group will specifically:

• oversee the activities of the project in order to meet its aims and objectives

The Coordinator will be responsible for establishing and managing the project through the various strategies and tasks as outlined in the workplan attached. She will work in consultation with the Principal of Banksia Secondary College and be responsible for liaising with the Myer Foundation re: service agreements and report writing.