Roebourne District High School trial aims at providing more connected support for kids and families

Roebourne District High School will be one of four WA schools taking part in a four-year, $21 million trial aimed at giving children better access to health, social, career planning and disability services, among others. The Connected Community School program was announced last week by the State Government, which touted it as a “transformative” scheme to “connect students and families with greater wellbeing supports and wider health, community and social networks”. Participating schools will consult with their community and stakeholders to work towards addressing specific local needs with a range of initiatives, such as making services available on site to remove barriers to access. The trial also aims to strengthen ties within the community by developing partnerships and use of school facilities after hours with groups such as local sporting groups, community language groups and other community organisations. The Government says the initiative “reinforces the importance of education intersecting with the human services sector, which includes the Western Australian public health system, mental health, police, justice and community services”. In announcing the trial, Premier Roger Cook said it was part of his government’s long-term vision of ensuring every West Australian child got the best possible start in life, and ensuring that everyone, no matter where they lived, had access to the services they needed. “By working closely with schools and families, we can give students the skills, confidence and support they need to reach their full potential,” he said. “This trial will help schools find the most effective way of delivering practical, targeted support that meets the needs of students and their families.” Education and Early Childhood Minister Sabine Winton said the trial would “provide the right support, at the right time, to really move the dial in terms of improving student wellbeing and outcomes over years”. “We know that schools achieve the best outcomes for students when they create strong relationships with families,” she said. “Schools understand the needs of their local families best and will play a key role in identifying opportunities to provide additional support.”