Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS)
Providing an innovative one-year transitional program for Year 7 students from remote Indigenous communities.
The Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS) provides an innovative one-year transitional program for Year 7 students from remote Indigenous communities. Students live on campus in a home-style, culturally-celebratory environment and attend intensive classes with specialist teachers before transitioning into scholarships at Melbourne schools.
2016 Pitch
Funds raised: $28,000
The Melbourne Indigenous Transition School presented at The Funding Network in Sydney in June 2016 to create more of those 'easier days' - making the level of education many of us take for granted a real prospect for young people like Sonya. MITS raised $28,000 to provide Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) training for all staff and employ a Wellbeing Officer.
The impact...
Sonya* is smart, capable and courageous. She knows an education will give her life choices. She wants to achieve Year 12 and go on to University. When she does this, she will be the first person in her family to do both.
However, she also carries the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings. She has often been their primary carer in their short lives. It is enormously difficult for her to put her education first, when she knows her siblings are doing it tough. Through the emphasis placed on wellbeing at MITS, Sonya has been supported to find the courage needed to continue her education and strive for academic achievement. Some days this is a minute-by-minute proposition. Other days are a bit easier but none is straightforward.
In order to learn, all children must feel safe and supported at school but when a student comes from trauma-informed childhoods where violence is common, they need extra support. Implementing the BSEM at MITS has enabled teachers and boarding staff to develop a shared approach and language when supporting our students to build resilience, courage and capability.
* (not her real name)
Read their Impact Report
Learn more about Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS).
Supporting Sustainable Development Goals:
