When Patsy Huggins arrived at Doveton College she had no qualifications, no confidence and bad teeth.
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She enrolled her daughter in the school’s early learning centre and then signed up for an education for herself.
The school also put her in touch with a dentist who fitted her out with dentures.
“I had a car accident when I was 19 and lost some of my teeth and that put my self-confidence way down here,” she said, pointing to the ground.
Doveton College is unlike any other Australian school.
The disadvantaged state school in Melbourne’s south-east doesn’t just enrol students, it enrols families.
It's a one-stop shop, with an award-winning early learning centre, short courses for parents, community and volunteer programs, doctors, psychologists, paediatricians, fitness classes, playgroups, employment services and hundreds of extra-curricular activities.
Now the pioneering model, which is a partnership between the Colman Foundation and the state government, is being expanded to another 10 disadvantaged Victorian schools. These include Morwell Central Primary School, Seymour College, Carlton Primary School, Robinvale P-12 and Bridgewood Primary School.
The Colman Foundation and its philanthropic partners have committed $30 million over the next decade to make this a reality.
It also donated $1.8 million to help build Doveton College, which opened in 2012, and is spending $500,000 a year on its support services.
Philanthropist and retired businessman Julius Colman said the initiative — which is called Our Place — transforms schools into community hubs.
“We hunt down all the services and try to deliver them in an ordered, wraparound way, rather than a piecemeal way,” he said.
He said none of the services were pushed onto families.
“They elect to do something about their lives,” he said.
“They can improve their English, their breastfeeding, their relationship with others and do training that leads to qualifications and jobs.”
Zahra, an Afghan refugee who didn’t speak a word of English when she arrived in Australia, is among about 200 parents who complete short courses at the school every year while their children study in nearby classrooms.
In her English classes, she has learnt basic conversation skills and how to purchase food at the supermarket.
“I didn’t have a lot of confidence, now I do,” she said
Principal Greg McMahon said the unique approach to education was paying off, with student attendance increasing from 85 to 93 per cent over the past three years.
Students’ academic performance is also on the rise, and 95 per cent of Years 3, 5 and 7 students perform at or above the minimum standards in NAPLAN. All year 9 students meet this benchmark.
Doveton College outperforms similar schools in many parts of the literacy and numeracy tests, and has evolved from a school with low aspirations to one with consistent academic growth.
It's an impressive feat for a school where 65 per cent of families are from the most disadvantaged cohort in Australia. At any point in time, about 30 students are in state care. More than 60 per cent of students are from non-English speaking backgrounds.
“If you start early, you have a chance,” Mr McMahon said.
“This is only needed in areas of disadvantage. The middle class don’t need this, they have the confidence to go out and find all of this. But in areas that haven’t shifted the needle for three generations… this works.”
Ms Huggins, who dropped out of school in Year 11, said Doveton College had taught her about the value of education. This is something she’s passed onto her seven-year-old daughter Rose.
“School is important, you need to be there,” Ms Huggins said.
Rose's favourite thing about school is reading.
“I love, love, love reading,” the year 2 student said. “Especially chapter books.”
Ms Huggins had been unemployed for more than 20 years when she enrolled in hospitality, leadership and literacy courses at Doveton College. She then completed a certificate 3 and 4 in education support.
Another course prepared her for the workforce, providing her with professional clothes and tips for job interviews.
All the hard work paid off.
Ms Huggins has been working full-time as a teaching aid at Doveton College for the past two years. She loves helping students, and seeing them develop over the year.
“Everyone here helped me build my confidence up and helped me realise that I am worth something," she said. "I am not just a stay-at-home mum. I am worth knowing.”
