For many young parents, education is one of the first things to fall away as the focus rightly shifts to keeping a small human fed, safe and loved. Compass Catholic Community in Adelaide shows that learning and parenting can exist at the same time. Source: The Southern Cross.
In addition to providing South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) and Vocational Education and Training courses for free, the Davoren Park school’s Early Years Hub provides free, onsite childminding for children aged six months to five years.
When Cameron Borlase returned to study earlier this year, her son, Eugene, was just three months old.
At 20 and living in Salisbury, Cameron knew she wanted to move forward, but like many young parents, the pathway back into education felt unclear.
“I didn’t quite finish Year 12 and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do,” Ms Borlase said.
“I needed an interim point; something that helped me get back into the skills without jumping straight into really formal study.”
Before Compass, Ms Borlase had been encouraged to move into foundation studies at university.
“I went there and it didn’t quite work out,” she said.
With a newborn and limited childcare options, traditional schooling simply wasn’t realistic until Compass offered something different.
A place where she could work toward her SACE, rebuild confidence and most importantly, bring her child along for the journey.
“I found it really comfortable coming here,” Ms Borlase said.
“I’ve been challenged where I need to be, without being daunted. It feels safe.”
A big part of that safety comes from Compass’s Early Years facility.
Having Eugene cared for onsite means Ms Borlase doesn’t have to choose between being present as a parent and engaged as a student.
With no classes, bells or uniforms at Compass, Principal Kelly Bunyon said learning is focused on every young person’s interest and goal in mind.
“Many young people will run into barriers at some stage in their life that can impact their education, big or small, so we work with our community to break down those barriers and together find a way towards what is the next step in a meaningful life for that student,” Ms Bunyon said.
“Cameron’s story reflects what Compass is for young people: not pressure to have everything figured out, but space to move forward.”
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Supporting parents back into study (The Southern Cross)
