New partnerships

We are excited to be working with iyarn, EdConnect and The Salvation Army’s Balga Early Learning Centre. With these new partnerships comes new educational opportunities, improved outcomes and positive collaborations with wide impact.

iyarn

iyarn is a tool that uses simple, purposeful and flexible check-ins to connect people and monitor wellbeing. The check-ins are a safe space to be heard and for personal reflection for users. For schools, the platform is a source of information on individual students, cohorts and wellbeing trends.

The Fogarty Foundation are supporting iyarn’s WA research project in 2021, in partnership through Schools Plus. The iyarn app and platform is used to check in on mental well-being. This project will run the tool in 10 EDvance schools, as a pilot to test and refine the tool, and establish a foundation for adoption on a wider basis for the future. iyarn will be undertaking research on this project to ensure we are supporting schools and students at the point of need.

EdConnect

EdConnect Australia is a charity that trains, supports and places volunteers in schools to improve the lives of vulnerable children. They have over 1,300 volunteers working with over 14,000 students – the majority in WA and expanding in Victoria and NSW. EdConnect provide regular training and development opportunities for volunteers to engage with quality volunteers in a meaningful and purposeful way. 

EdConnect are wanting to develop more training courses for their volunteers.  The Fogarty Foundation are going to support the development of three training modules:

1. An online reading training for volunteers

2. Cyber security education

3. Supporting students with additional needs, developed with Dyslexia Speld Foundation.

The Salvation Army – Balga Early Learning Centre and Family Crisis Support 

The Salvation Army’s Balga Early Learning Centre is an integrated service location with a long day care centre providing early years care, safety, nutrition and education for residents of Balga, Girrawheen, Koondoola, Nollamara and Mirrabooka; suburbs classified in the government SEIFA* index as low socio, vulnerable and complex due to long term poverty, low education, addiction and homelessness etc. The ELC provides early  learning for 50 children each day, from 6 weeks old to 6 years old.

The numbers of children presenting with challenging and complex behaviours is increasing, possibly due to increased substance abuse/stress during pregnancy, trauma, generational poverty, low maternity knowledge, poor nutrition etc. This partnership will allow for children whose parents/families are in crisis, to retain their place at the Balga ELC. Funding for Balga ELC Crisis Support will ensure that children who are at risk will continue to benefit from the ELC, building protective factors and reducing risk factors.

The Foundation has worked in the Balga/Girrawheen area for many years and supported several schools through the Fogarty EDVance School Improvement Program. This is a three-year partnership commitment to supporting the community.