2. Innovative Community Action Networks
Local solutions to locally identified
barriers to successful engagement and retention
in learning.
Innovative -new ways to address issues
Community -working together
Action -focus on doing
Networks -local and joined up approach

3. The cost of Early School Leaving
When young people do not complete school, Education Foundation Australia (2007) suggests that they can expect:
lower wages and greater financial insecurity
poorer mental and physical health
a higher likelihood of child abuse and neglect when early leavers become parents
higher instances of homelessness, drug and alcohol abuse and criminal activity
mortality rates up to nine times higher than the general population.
Early school leaving and lower levels of education cost Australia an estimated $2.6 billion a year in higher social welfare, health and crime prevention.
Education Foundation Australia (2007)

4. Brief History of ICAN
2003 Social Inclusion Board’s SCHOOL RETENTION ACTION PLAN
– Four ICAN’s
COAG – Nation Partnerships expansion

5. Smarter Schools National Partnerships
Student Centred Outcomes
All strategies are designed ultimately to contribute to increasing student attainment throughout the schooling cycle (primary, through secondary into further education, training or employment).
All strategies are based on current evidence about what works:
Increasing student engagement and attainment through case management, mentoring and other personalised support
Achieving better student outcomes through innovative whole-of-school approaches
3. Lifting whole-of-school student outcomes through strengthening school leadership
4. Maximising student learning through teachers teaching differently
5. Building connections between students, schools and communities through authentic community engagement

6. STUDENT POPULATION PROFILE
STUDENT RISK PROFILE
DECS INITIATIVES
EXTREME
RISK
ICAN
School & Community Based
Programs & services for
learning & engagement
-intensive case management
-Flexible Learning Options (FLO)
Significantly Disengaged
Small numbers of young people 10-19yrs
HIGH
RISK
Partly Disengaged
A few students
STUDENT MENTORING
School Based
1:1 supportive relationship
Community Volunteer Mentoring
Secondary Mentoring
Moderately Engaged
Some students
ENGAGED DISENGAGED
Very Engaged
Many students
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Whole school capacity building
School based programs & strategies
to increase student engagement and
learning across the middle years
Extremely Engaged
Most students

7. It takes a whole village….
ICAN promotes a shared responsibility for a range of social inclusion factors
Disengagement is merely one symptom of other issues
By sharing the responsibility across the whole of community, the issues are addressed collectively rather than fragmented across ‘silo’ approaches by multiple services

8. Flexible Learning Options (FLO)
FLO is a targeted ENROLMENT strategy
Enables schools to flexibly engage individual students in school/community learning.
Provides individual case management to address the barriers (personal and learning) that prevent successful engagement and retention.
Community Partnership Approach-adding value to current supports
FLO is not a “program”

9. ICAN Management Committees
Each ICAN area has an active local ICAN Management Committee, led by an independent chair and made up of representatives from key government and non-government agencies
Their role is to identify local barriers to youth engagement and determine the ICAN strategic directions for their area
ICAN Management Committees oversee the allocation of ICAN Community Partnership Funding of up to $100,000 per year/per committee

10. Outer Southern ICAN Management Committee
Has key strategy groups in each major locale; Kangaroo Island, Fleurieu Peninsula and Outer South Metro
Key Strategy Development Group in the Outer South Metro is the Southern Youth Round Table
One Key Focus Area for 2011 is Innovative Demonstration Models
Successful Applicant – Re-Engage Youth Services in partnership with Real Justice - ‘The Challenge’

11. THE CHALLENGE PROJECT Re-Engage Youth Services & Real Justice
An explicit framework based on restorative principles that provides structured opportunities for young people to develop a sense of responsibility and accountability & strengthen their engagement to their social environment
It assists young people to restore relationships that have broken down and build & maintain relationships that are meaningful and supportive
Aim is to train youth case managers in the Outer Southern region to incorporate The Challenge into case management practice when working with young people and their communities of care ( families, peers, school etc)

12. The Challenge
The initial training will involve youth case workers from both Re-Engage Youth Services and other agencies across the Outer South region
This project will ultimately incorporate schools, families, other youth services and govt organisations
It will be especially relevant for young people who are at risk of offending or re-offending within the Juvenile Justice system

13. Contact Details www.ican.sa.edu.au Lucie Walker
A/Regional Manager – Greater Southern ICAN
Department of Education and Children's Services (DECS)
Phone:  (08)
Mobile:   
Cheryl Bevan
Local Program Manager - Outer South ICAN
Phone:
Mobile: