Improving young people's educational outcomes through school business community partnerships: the Smith Family's Partnership Brokers

In recognition of the need to lift Australia's Year 12 or equivalent completion rates, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to a National Partnership on Youth Attainment and Transitions in July 2009. The School Business Community Partnership Brokers program is one of the programs administered by the federal government as part of this partnership. The Partnership Brokers program aims to build partnerships to improve education and transition outcomes for all young people, with a particular emphasis on supporting young people to achieve Year 12 or equivalent qualifications. Partnership Brokers form locally relevant partnerships that harness community resources and share responsibility for young people's learning and development. They encourage the development of partnerships between education and training providers, business and industry, parents and families, and community groups. The Smith Family is the provider of the Partnership Broker program in six regions (Brisbane North and West, Brisbane South East and Redland City, Gold Coast and Darling Downs in Queensland, the Illawarra in New South Wales and Darwin and Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory). This report examines 11 partnerships that have been developed and supported by some of the Smith Family Partnership Brokers across the six regions in which it operates. The partnerships focus on improving student wellbeing, empowering communities, and introducing young people to the world of work.

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