BEYOND THE BELL COMMUNITY REPORT CARD What is Beyond the Bell?

Beyond the Bell is a We use Year 12 or equivalent attainment rates* as a measure of regional Collective our success.

Impact initiative that Beyond the Bell has developed an aims to ensure every approach that views the individual in the context of a continuum, from young person in the conception to adulthood. Great South Coast MAP OF OUR We understand that improving REGION region is supported and a single part of the education continuum is unlikely to make a encouraged to be the difference. Instead, we need to best possible versions journey with each individual along Glenelg Shire that full continuum. of themselves. Southern Shire We also understand that no Moyne Shire single person, organisation, City sector or government can Corangamite Shire accomplish this alone. We must Colac Otway Shire work collectively, striving to coordinate improvements along the continuum.

This Community Report Card provides a report to our regional communities, detailing some of the events and progress of the past year. Our Vision Our community is a leader in working together to enable our young people to succeed.

Beyond the Bell will have succeeded when 90 per cent or more of our young people are achieving Year 12 or equivalent. We aim to achieve this by 2030. *Currently Certificate II, however future COAG targets will recognise Certificate III as equivalent to Year 12. Our

Regional Leadership Group Governance The Regional Leadership Group is charged with ensuring our communities are connected, aligned and engaged in our work. During the year this group has provided guidance and support to Beyond the Bell Great Local Action Groups, embarked upon a regional communications South Coast Ltd Board exercise and undertaken advocacy and lobbying, sourced funding and facilitated training to build the capacity of our partners and stakeholders to work collaboratively.

Backbone Beyond the Bell Regional Working Support Leadership Group Groups 2015/16 REGIONAL LEADERSHIP GROUP MEMBERS

Warrnambool Colac Otway Corangamite

Local Action Groups

Southern Moyne Glenelg Grampians CHAIR, ALISTAIR ANNE MURPHY CATHERINE KATHLEEN KAYE MCCOSH Deakin Glenelg Southern DARKIN DHHS SANDERSON SCHOLFIELD University Grampians LLEN Brophy Family and Primary Producer, Youth Services RDA Member

VIKKI KING 2015/16 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Warrnambool City Board of Directors JACQUI BECK Regional A voluntary Board has Development responsibility for the governance of Beyond the Bell, helping to provide strategic oversight for the MIKE HOLLAND MATTHEW NOLA MICHAEL TONI JENKINS initiative and ensure legislative South West LLEN DAWSON MACFARLANE FITZGERALD South West LLEN CHAIR, MIKE COMPANY SECRETARY, Corangamite Shire Southern Department of HOLLAND GREG BURGOYNE compliance. Grampians Shire Education and South West LLEN Glenelg Shire Council Training

Local Action Groups

Our six Local Action Groups were formed within each of our participating municipalities – the Shires of Southern Grampians, Glenelg, Moyne, Corangamite Colac Otway and the City of Warrnambool. Each has ADELE KATHLEEN TONI JENKINS KAYE KAREN FOSTER ANNE MURPHY KENNEALLY developed and is now implementing Local Action SANDERSON South West LLEN SCHOLFIELD o2 Media Glenelg Southern Planning and Plans aligned with areas of greatest need in their Brophy Family and Primary Producer, Grampians LLEN Liaison Support Youth Services RDA Member respective communities. Message from the Message from the Beyond the Bell Chair Regional Leadership Group Chair

Due to the excellent Commitment, energy, capacity and Beyond the Bell has To all stakeholders, members, humility to learn how to do things committee and project staff we work of the Beyond the differently and courage to learn taken major steps thank you for your contributions Bell team, The Regional from mistakes are only a small part forward in the past and look forward to your of our Collective Impact approach. continued support in our long Leadership Group, the This, of itself, has seen us all embark year. term aim of ensuring all our upon a huge learning curve. children can succeed and have six Local Action Groups The Local Action Groups have a bright future. and all the individuals Credit must be given to all undertaken a significant amount organisations and individuals of work, incorporating a diverse and partners, Beyond who have shared the journey. range of activities that aim to the Bell Great South The dedication of our support improve our young people’s Alistair McCosh consultant Adele Kenneally is chances to achieve their best. Alistair McCosh Coast Ltd. officially something that we treasure. Chair, Beyond the Bell The announcement in October Regional Leadership Group came into existence I invite everyone to celebrate our of $290,000 by Minister Jaala this year. work so far and bring others on Pulford, Member for Western board to share this vital journey for Victoria, was most welcome This courageous and thoughtful our communities in the south west. and we thank the Victorian action reflects the long-term Government for this grant. This vision of the whole team to make will provide us with capacity to a significant difference the lives of resource over the next 12 months our young people. Mike Holland a range of new projects, carry Mike Holland out much needed evaluation We are most grateful to the Chair, Beyond the Bell and ensure backbone support is agencies and philanthropic Great South Coast provided to the LGAs. organisations who have supported our important work, including Regional Development Australia, Regional Development Victoria, State Trustees Australia Foundation, South West Community Foundation and other local foundations and individuals who have supported Beyond the Bell financially. Local Action Key toachievements date Groups • Creation of a Regional • Delivered a suite of training MOYNE SHIRE Leadership Group across the region, including: • Established Company - six Introduction to Limited by Guarantee with Collaboration for Impact 2016 achievements: DGS status Forums Developed by Koroit Primary School • Creation of six Local Action - six Collective Impact staff and assisted by funding from the Groups Workshops State Trustees Australia Foundation, the Nurture Nest Program was • Developed Regional - two Measuring Impact implemented in late 2015. It aims to Strategic Plan and Action Research build the capacity of parents and workshops • Developed six Location carers to ensure pre-schoolers are Action Plans, each reflecting - three Joint Local Action secured in ready for school. It has a particular areas of greatest local Group Forums 2015/2016 focus on vulnerable and at-risk concern children. • Public speaking Funding • Beyond the Bell was one engagements (average • State Trustees Australia Foundation Topics are based on issues schools of 10 Collective Impact of one every month), - $70,000 in 2015 and $80,000 in and kindergartens identify, including initiatives to have been including invitation to speak 2016 for continuation of backbone emotional maturing, nutrition, oral short-listed from across at the ‘Collaboration for support and local initiatives language and physical development. Australia for the ‘The Search’ Impact’ state conference in • Great South Coast Councils - , May 2016 The program will now be delivered • More than 100 stakeholders, $25,000 for backbone support annually across seven Moyne Shire agencies and organisations • Alignment with the Great • Regional Development Australia communities. are now represented and South Coast Early Years - $50,000 for Collective Impact participating in Beyond Network training and Marketing Strategy In October, Koroit Primary School the Bell • Mentoring provided to • Jones Foundation & Uebergang won the Victorian Leadership Award • Developed and Local Action Groups with Foundations - $10,000 for Moyne category of the Victorian Regional implemented a Collective Impact specialist Local Action Group initiatives Achievement and Community Awards communications strategy Liz Skelton for its work developing the Nurture • Port Fairy Folk Festival - $3,600 Nest Program. for Moyne Local Action Group initiatives • Victorian Government - $290,000 2017 goals: for backbone support, mentoring and training and regional initiatives. Secure funding to establish a Nurture Room in at least two schools and to • South West Community deliver a trauma-informed practice Foundation - $10,000 for local program in at least two schools. initiatives and media. Local Action Groups Our plans for SOUTHERN GRAMPIANS 2017 SHIRE 2016 achievements: 3. Reading Champions – specially trained champions • Continued implementation • Shared measurement This year, the Southern read to children at a host of of our communication and system to be developed and Grampians Shire Local Action events held across the Shire engagement strategy implemented Group opted to revisit the throughout the year. • More public speaking, • Evaluation Framework to be Literacy Project Report 4. Key Messages to the advocacy and lobbying developed and implemented 2014, and in particular, the recommendations based on Community – spreading the • Ongoing mentoring for Local • Joint Local Action Group taking a Collective Impact word about Growing Greater Action Groups Forums to be staged approach. Readers and Beyond the Bell. • Adaptation Leadership • Investigate platforms for The resulting ‘Growing Greater Masterclasses will build sharing information, results 5. Literacy Educators – Readers’ initiative aims to the skills and capacity and learning bringing together teachers boost childhood exposure to of regional leaders from Kindergarten to Year 12 • Continued advocacy for reading, helping to ensure pre- and managers to work to share knowledge, skills support and funding schoolers are better equipped collaboratively and understandings. to begin formal education. • Continue to build our • Skills audit and self- regional networks and assessments of Regional Growing Greater Readers uses relationships Leadership Group and Local five methods to do this: 2017 goals: Action Groups • Patron/Champion program 1. Little Book Boxes – to be implemented We will build upon our work • Social impact courses providing quality books to the community at no charge during 2016 to ensure the and qualifications will be • Develop Collective Impact community better understands promoted in our region Development Strategy in public places to make reading happen anywhere, that, together, we can bring • A Sustainability Strategy to • Address regional priorities anytime. about change and improve be developed and build on our early years outcomes for all children living literacy and the social and 2. Let’s Read – books are in Southern Grampians Shire. • Regional Action Plan to be emotional wellbeing of distributed to children reviewed and revised our young people. during milestone Maternal and Child Health visits. COLAC OTWAY GLENELG SHIRE SHIRE

2016 achievements: At the time of writing, this 2016 achievements: The ‘Youth Live 4 Life’ pilot seeks to research is underway. The findings address our community’s alarming The Community Attitudes to will help us better understand The Glenelg Local Action Group has suicide rates. One of two pilot sites Education Research Project aims attitudes to education and the focused on three key initiatives in in Victoria, this program has been to glean important insights into key influences on those attitudes. 2016 – Stepping Stones to School; delivered in partnership with the the Colac Otway community’s The data will be used to create an You’re Enough campaign; Youth Live Secondary Welfare Action Group. attitudes to education. evidence base for future projects 4 Life Pilot. Through a holistic approach, it aims aimed at boosting parental to help the community to delivery With funds from Regional involvement, communicating key The ‘Stepping Stones to School’ the Youth Mental Health First Aid Development Victoria, the Colac messages to the community, and project assisted by funding provided and Teen Mental Health First Aid Otway Local Action Group strengthening our community’s by the State Trustees Australia programs to parents, teachers and commissioned the Brotherhood leadership. Foundation, aims to build the all Years 8 and 11 students across of St Laurence to undertake capacity and connection between Glenelg Shire. research to determine attitudes to stakeholders and families to ensure education across the education 2017 goals: children are ‘school-ready’ and can continuum, including early years, make a smooth transition from primary and secondary schools, We plan to progress the kindergarten to primary school. A 2017 goals: recent school leavers, parents, recommendations and findings full copy of a report detailing the business, industry, government, success of this program’s outcomes is • Continue the very successful from the Community Attitudes to Stepping Stones project to sporting, religious and volunteer Education research project, with a available at www.gsgllen.org.au. organisations. support parents, early childhood focus on student disengagement, and school professionals. school attendance, parental The ‘You’re Enough’ campaign engagement and creating positive is the result of the collaborative • Build on the ‘You’re Enough’ messages about education in our efforts of RMIT University Graphic campaign, incorporating messages community. Communication and Design students for parents. and Beyond the Bell. This innovative approach to tackling under-age • Establish a process to measure drinking features positive messages our progress. and encourages young people to • Develop a communication resist peer pressure to drink alcohol. strategy. Selected as a finalist in the VicHealth Awards’ Preventing Harm from • Bring together key community Alcohol category, the You’re Enough leaders to determine our strategic campaign will conclude with a priorities for 2017/18. student art exhibition. CORANGAMITE WARRNAMBOOL SHIRE CITY

2016 achievements: • Identify individuals with 2016 achievements: 2017 goals: additional needs and • Seeking funding for a In 2016, the Corangamite Local vulnerabilities so they receive For the Warrnambool City program to support early Action Group has worked hard to timely intervention and access Local Action Group, the past years literacy. implement is 2015/16 Local Action to services year has been one of review, Plan and develop a new plan group renewal and formation. • Implement the Little Book • Make clear recommended for 2016/17. Bugs Pilot Project. thresholds for action and The group was successful in Sub-groups have been formed and intervention. attracting a small amount of • Will seek to identify and additional members recruited to funding to help us through engage patrons and This year, Local Action Group help us achieve our goals. this process. With more stable champions. members from the South West Local membership, we are now in Learning and Employment Network, • Will deliver a Linking The key strategic initiative for 2016 great shape to continue our Brophy Family and Youth Services, Schools and Early Years has been to identify, acknowledge, work in 2017. share and add value to the broad Child First and Corangamite Shire Program workshop range of activities supporting Council formed a sub-group to The funding also enabled us and Murdoch Institute improved educational attainment in ensure the framework detailed to do some strategic planning professional development our Shire. about is ready to be implemented and to implement some program. across our Shire. relatively small, but powerful • Will seek to deliver the With the further funding from the projects. One of these was a Altitude Program for Year 8 State Trustees Australia Foundation series of trauma workshops boys. we will implement the ‘Continuum of 2017 goals: that was highly subscribed and Need’ project, which was developed a resounding success. • Will deliver the Positive to help identify children with • Implement the Continuum People program in additional needs and vulnerabilities. of Need framework across The key areas of future focus Warrnambool with a view to Corangamite Shire for the Warrnambool Action expanding and aligning with This multi-agency, multi-disciplinary Group are early years literacy other schools and programs framework relates to children and • Build the profile of Beyond the and ensuring the social and across the region. young people aged up to 18 years Bell within our community and emotional wellbeing of our and seeks to: increase the number of people young people. who feel a part of our work. • Clarify the continuum of need from early intervention through to acute needs and/or mandated intervention • Describe levels of vulnerability with a common understanding and shared language www.beyondthebell.com.au Find us on f