Real mentors change lives, and this month we were honoured to take that message to Parliament House in Canberra.
Every young Australian deserves a fair chance at education and the opportunity to thrive. But right now, the systems in place aren’t working.
That’s why this month we took an important message to Parliament House in Canberra: to amplify the voices of young people, talk directly with federal leaders about critical issues affecting young people, and to showcase why early-intervention support programs like TRACTION are imperative.
Leading the charge were our CEO, Dr. Annabel Prescott, our Head of Engagement and Policy, Samantha Garbutt, and our Marketing Manager, Grace Lovi. Alongside them were three of our professional youth mentors and delivery champions, Sean Mayo, JL Jankovic and Ben Strand, who came to share what young people tell them works.
Our crew spoke with regional MPs, senators, ministers from relevant portfolios and their staff, through a mix of formal briefings and informal catchups. We also set up a pop-up in the Parliament House grounds, which drew in plenty of politicians and their staff for valuable conversations.
“Working with key decision-makers, both in formal parliamentary settings and during visits to our own workshops and spaces, offers a critical opportunity,” said Annabel. “Through building and maintaining these relationships that we can reshape systems and improve long-term outcomes, together.”
A clear message to Canberra
These were just some of the compelling statistics we relayed to those we engaged with in Canberra, to help frame the issues that young people face;
Four in ten Australian students miss too much school to keep up, and only 59.8% attend 90% of the time, which is where learning and achievement start to fall.
National attendance sits at 88.3%, well below the pre-COVID rate of 91.4%, and Queensland government schools are lower again at 86.9%.
The drop is steepest in Years 7 to 10 and in schools serving less advantaged communities.
These numbers are tracked and are rising exponentially.
“The significance of these facts resonated with MPs,” said Annabel. “They know all too well where disengagement can lead in their own electorates, in local schools, courts and other services. It’s where the costs to government are highest and hardest to turn around.”
Annabel believes it’s why MPs were so engaged when hearing about TRACTION, with a proven, evidence-based model that’s well established across Queensland, Toowoomba and Ipswich.
“Our unique mentor framework works, and we have the impact statistics and research to prove it. But it’s not all about what’s on paper. Young people themselves tell us that TRACTION has benefited their lives, and our mentors witness it every day.”
Annabel also believes that having our three mentors at the event, sharing real and often emotional stories and quotes from young people, was pivotal to the conversation.
“We know young people’s voices matter, and it also made what we were saying very real, emotional and more personal. The decisions made about young people should reflect their reality and their aspirations first and foremost.”
Mentors advocating for the young people they know so well
JL, Program Manager and Mentor across the Redlands and Gold Coast was grateful for the opportunity to represent the young people she works alongside.
“As a program delivery team, we're the ones liaising with the schools, building relationships, managing and facilitating programs, and most importantly - listening to our young people and witnessing what they’re truly up against”, said JL.
Sean, our Regional Development Manager across Ipswich and Toowoomba, didn't need much convincing to attend. “If someone says, do you want to get in front of the nation’s decision-makers and be a voice for our young people? I'm going to say, hell yeah, I'm in!”
Sean also loved the opportunity to chat one-on-one with MPs and tell the real stories behind the stats: “Young people tell us TRACTION helps them turn up to school, stay in class, build trust with adults and understand what they’re feeling. It was so important to share their stories, in their voice.”
For experienced mentor Ben Strand, an important part of the day was to convey the message that young people are not the problem – systems are no longer working for this generation's needs.
“I loved the opportunity to challenge some common misconceptions and help shift the conversation towards understanding the strengths and potential of young people, rather than viewing them as the problem”, he said. “At TRACTION, we have a way of explaining it in a strength-based, positive light that I think really resonated.”
Taking action
Annabel and team left the Canberra event knowing there was a shared energy and commitment to early intervention and prevention, and a better understanding of the importance of working together.
“We’re thrilled that interest in TRACTION didn’t just stop at the steps of Parliament,” she said. “We’ve already booking meetings and workshop visits with MPs and will continue these critical conversations with people who can impact systems from the top down – which is part of our wider strategic goals.”
A huge thanks to everyone who engaged with our team during the visit, and the people who helped make it happen.
