Funding announced for GSSC

By Georgia Tacey

Dec 26, 2023

Funding: Greater Shepparton Secondary College has received a grant to support African and Pasifika students. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Greater Shepparton Secondary College is among several schools benefiting from grants to help engage and support their African and Pasifika students.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll announced the 23 schools receiving the Strengthening School Engagement grants as part of the Place-Based Partnerships to Support School Engagement and Completion Initiative, which will share in $2.65 million of funding annually.

“Partnerships like these are the key to unlocking innovative approaches to tackle the challenges faced by students of African or Pasifika backgrounds and providing them with better opportunities to get ahead in life,” Mr Carroll said.

“Supporting students to engage and stay connected with their school helps build their confidence and enhances their opportunities to thrive.”

The initiative is designed to allow schools with high populations of African and Pasifika youths to thrive in school, with place-based approaches to increase students’ participation and completion rates.

Grant recipients will receive support from the Victorian Government annually in 2024, 2025 and 2026 to employ a full-time community liaison officer as a key contact to support young people with their education.

Five schools will receive between $130,000 and $150,000 in funding annually through 2026 to deliver the place-based initiative in partnership with other schools.

Greater Shepparton Secondary College program, Building Tomorrow’s Leaders, will receive the funding to help African and Pasifika students become strong leaders who understand their culture by addressing the specific challenges and opportunities within these communities.