Education brings endless possibilities for children in care

This week, thousands of organisations across Australia have celebrated National Children’s Week, a week dedicated solely to children and their rights. The theme for this year highlights Article 15 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the child - the right for children to enjoy childhood, to have friends and to choose the people they have friendships with.

Over my many years working in the social services sector, I reflect on the importance of educational settings for children to learn, but equally for the social connections and peer engagement it allows them to have.

For children in out-of-home care, educational outcomes are significantly lower than the general population and friendships can be harder to forge and maintain. Many experience multiple disruptions to the continuity of their education, making them more likely to withdraw from school in higher numbers than other students of the same age.

The same can be said for children with disability. As of 2015, just 41 per cent of Australian students with disability completed Year 12, compared to 62 per cent of their peers without disability.

The global pandemic thrust the critical role of education and the school context into even sharper focus. As the COVID-19 crisis unfolded and schools around Australia shut their doors, families and caretakers made the difficult but necessary transition to remote learning.

During this time, we witnessed our dedicated Life Without Barriers’ foster carers go above and beyond to make sure the children in their care had everything they needed to thrive. We also acknowledged the integral role carers play in influencing the schooling experience of children in out-of-home care. To do well at school, it makes sense kids need to feel supported and cared for.

The Disability Royal Commission’s inquiry into the education of children with disability found that COVID-19 had both highlighted, and exacerbated the existing inequalities faced by children with disability. We know there are many schools that do a brilliant job engaging their whole school community, but these should be the norm, not the exception.

That’s why when we think about the rights of children and their right to enjoy childhood – which National Children’s Week asks us to do – education must be there front and centre. Not only can it change lives, but it presents children who experience disadvantage and exclusion with the opportunity to take their rightful place with their peers, to forge and enjoy the benefits of social relationships, in an environment where their minds are exposed to the endless possibilities of what education offers.

Children are at the centre of what we do here at Life Without Barriers. Whether we’re supporting children with disability to live their fullest lives, or providing nurturing environments for children in contact with the child protection system, it’s always our priority to make sure children are respected, cared for, and – most importantly – given the right to enjoy childhood as children.

It is for these reasons we have invested in the creation of an Education Unit within Life Without Barriers to lead a national approach for our organisation so that children and young people growing up in care can reach their education potential. Our Education team will work with our dedicated staff and carers to focus on improving participation and better learning and social outcomes for children and young people, including children in pre-school and young people who are approaching the age of exiting care. It will also include a focus on children in out-of-home care with a disability

As we celebrate National Children’s Week 2020, it is vital to recognise there is more we need to do to ensure some of the most precious members of our community can get the help and support they need to achieve the best chances in life, and education is a pivotal platform to support that goal.