Mackillop Family Services works in partnership with to deliver targeted interventions for students who are vulnerable to, or showing signs of, disengaging from their education. These interventions also aim to the build the capacity of schools to better support those students to remain actively engaged in their learning and successfully complete their education.
School Focussed Youth Services (SFYS) is available to support students from Grade 5 to Year 12 who are attending school but are vulnerable to or showing signs of disengaging from school . It is available to students across government, Catholic and independent schools.
Mackillop Family Services oversees the delivery of School Focused Youth Services to young people in:
The Paw Pals Animal Assisted Education (AAE) Program has been developed by MacKillop Education for students who are currently disengaged, or at risk of disengaging, from education. Our program focuses on building student engagement and confidence through animal assisted educational-based activities and individualised learning sessions, working alongside our trained therapy dogs and program facilitators. AAE is a planned and structured student intervention with specific academic and educational goals.
MacKillop Education implements the ReLATE Model, informed by Sanctuary, and therefore, Oour staff work within a trauma-informed framework and understand the impact and implications of developmental trauma on a student’s learning and education. AAE Paw Pals provides a positive learning environment which supports students to quickly develop trust and increased self-esteem as an independent learner. Through individualised learning sessions, students work in partnership with a therapy dog and program facilitator to develop enhanced skills in the areas of behaviour regulation, social and emotional learning (SEL), numeracy and literacy.