School’s jobs, uni pledge

NORTHERN suburb leaders are calling for philanthropic support to reinject hope into a region with myriad social issues.

Northern Bay College leaders are the driving force behind a program that would give at least one student a university fees scholarship plus $20,000 to cover living expenses.

The bold plan, named the Northern Bay Challenge, would aim to help all students who attend northern suburbs schools to enter employment or tertiary study.

Principal Fred Clarke said the program had been seven years in the making and was designed to change the prospects of all people living in postcode 3214.

“It is based on the Northern Bay promise — to build a sense of hope in the community that their future is not going to be determined by the postcode they live in,” Mr Clarke said. “When you leave us you will end up with a job or in further education.”

Postcode 3214 — which covers Corio, Norlane and North Shore — recorded the third lowest ranking in the state across 22 indicators of disadvantage including internet access, income, education, long-term unemployment and criminal convictions.

Official statistics show the region has a median weekly income of just $828 compared to Great Geelong’s $1615 and Victoria’s $1715.

While its secondary school participation rate is 24 per cent, its university and VET participation rates are just 5.4 per cent compared to the state average of 17.8 per cent.

Mr Clarke said the project was about advancing the prospects of the community and needed to engage young people, agencies and parents.

He said the recent Geelong Project pilot, which involved Northern Bay, showed the success a tailored project could have, if properly resourced.

“We hope that in driving this we can have a school where there is a guaranteed successful outcome — whether that be in a labouring job or going through to uni. Success can be any one of those things,” Mr Clarke said.

It’s hoped projects including a doctor in schools program, a lawyers in schools program, an education health and nutrition research hub and a sports academy program would operate out of Northern Bay College.

Leaders hope philanthropists and agencies will back the program.