Mallee Accommodation and Support Program (MASP) and Mallee Family Care (MFC) will celebrate a year of delivering the Victorian Department of Education’s Navigator Program in the Mallee in January 2025.
The Navigator Program in Mallee supports disengaged young people across the Mildura, Swan Hill, Gannawarra and Buloke Local Government Areas who have attended less than 30% of the previous school term or equivalent period (if enrolled in school) in their journey back to education.
Under the partnership MASP delivers the program in the Northern Mallee, with MFC targeting the Southern Mallee.
Over the past 12 months participants in the program have been assessed in outcome areas such as practical skills, communication and social skills, learning skills, health and wellbeing, living skills, friends and relationships, social responsibility and work readiness.
100 per cent of participants are making progress in at least two outcome areas, with 83 per cent making progress in at least three. Participants are on average making progress in 4.8 outcome areas.
“Navigator has created a meaningful support system to address the challenges faced by young people and their families, which we are proud to be delivering with MFC,” MASP Acting CEO Charmaine Calis said.
“We are pleased with the positive outcomes we have seen so far and look forward to continuing to make a difference. I am also very appreciative of our dedicated staff who have worked hard to enact real change with these disengaged young people.”
Mallee Family Care CEO Teresa Jayet said the agency was proud to be delivering the Navigator program to youth in the Southern Mallee in partnership with MASP.
“Since its inception, the Navigator program has successfully connected many young people with the support, guidance, and resources they need to thrive in education,” she said.
“Our dedicated team, working closely with students, families, and schools, has created a nurturing environment where young people feel empowered to rebuild their connection to learning. The program’s success highlights the critical role of tailored, place-based solutions in addressing the diverse challenges young people face when re-entering education. The Navigator program is not just about returning to school—it’s about helping these individuals regain their confidence and build a future full of opportunities.”
Between September 2016 and January 2024 Navigator was delivered by a partnership between Mildura Rural City Council, Northern Mallee LLEN, Murray Mallee LLEN and Red Cliffs Secondary College before the MASP/MFC took on the program.
