For over 30 years, Rotary Central Melbourne (RCM) has partnered with Steps Outreach, a service of Concern Australia, to support people who are at risk of or have experienced homelessness to build a better future. RCM members donate Christmas hampers and the club facilitates corporate gift giving through the Tree of Joy. It has provided other support over the years including food vouchers and personal hygiene kits. It now sponsors a scholarship program named in honour of Past President Bernie Gerlinger.
The Bernie Gerlinger Hope for the Future Scholarship Program provides school essentials to enable awardees to remain in school and participate in out of school activities commonplace to most students but out of reach for them.
For example, the scholarship provides things like uniform, shoes, textbooks, art supplies, backpacks, music lessons and support to get a driving licence. The program goes beyond material support though, with Steps Outreach also providing assistance from a youth worker and a mentor for each participant.
The students have all faced significant challenges in their young lives. Some have developmental issues. They commonly live in high-rise public housing, couch surf and / or have experienced homelessness. There is often a history of domestic violence, poverty and grief and loss. In most cases one parent has died leaving a father or mother to raise the child.
The combination of material and personal support has been life changing.
For example, one student passed year 12 with high marks while living in in-secure housing. She is now studying Law at university and working part time. Another completed Year 12 and also attained a Cert 111 in Warehousing and Logistics. Yet another is in Year 12, has been accepted into a pilot hospitality course overseen by William Angliss. He works and trains part of the week and attends school for the rest of the time.
Other students are in lower grades in school and are doing well, often with the intensive support of the Steps youth worker. The attached case study demonstrates the value of this intensive youth work and mentoring.
The Bernie Gerlinger Hope for the Future Scholarship Program provides school essentials to enable awardees to remain in school and participate in out of school activities commonplace to most students but out of reach for them.
For example, the scholarship provides things like uniform, shoes, textbooks, art supplies, backpacks, music lessons and support to get a driving licence. The program goes beyond material support though, with Steps Outreach also providing assistance from a youth worker and a mentor for each participant.
The students have all faced significant challenges in their young lives. Some have developmental issues. They commonly live in high-rise public housing, couch surf and / or have experienced homelessness. There is often a history of domestic violence, poverty and grief and loss. In most cases one parent has died leaving a father or mother to raise the child.
The combination of material and personal support has been life changing.
For example, one student passed year 12 with high marks while living in in-secure housing. She is now studying Law at university and working part time. Another completed Year 12 and also attained a Cert 111 in Warehousing and Logistics. Yet another is in Year 12, has been accepted into a pilot hospitality course overseen by William Angliss. He works and trains part of the week and attends school for the rest of the time.
Other students are in lower grades in school and are doing well, often with the intensive support of the Steps youth worker. The attached case study demonstrates the value of this intensive youth work and mentoring.