The MAT Program A therapeutic martial arts program for engaging our most vulnerable and disadvantaged children and youth Restoring hope / Building resilience / Engaging in school / Positive futures / Safe learning environments Overview report of the four year pilot for the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Victoria, Australia June 2014 Startling Statistics and MAT Deliverables Do you know that mental illness is the major Do you know that one in five young people cause of disability in children and young do not have anyone in their lives to turn to for people (70%)? That 31% of visits to School help and support? Nurses in 2009 by secondary students were Mission Australia, 2011 for mental health related issues. Department of Health, 2010 “We were truly amazed by the impact of this (MAT) program. The program develops Our survey suggests that some students with student’s social skills, self-discipline, disabilities are suspended multiple times or respect for self and others, and it provides expelled, nearly always in connection with techniques to manage emotions in challenging behavior-related issues. circumstances through the medium of Held back: the experience of students with disabilities Martial Arts.” Today’s Schools Channel 31, May 2012 in Victoria Schools, Main findings, Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission, Do you know that in December 2013 74% of September 2012 teacher survey respondents, experienced The MAT Program promotes mental health physical violence from students, up from 67% and wellbeing in 2011 and 55% in 2009? “The program does this by reducing risk Do you know that in December 2013 88% of factors for mental health, providing an teacher survey respondents were aware of age-appropriate treatment for children other teachers experiencing violence, up from with emerging mental health problems, 84% in 2011 and 75% in 2009? and providing targeted support for these Herald Sun/Galaxy Research of secondary and primary educators across all sectors vulnerable children.” (Legg, 2013, p.66) Do you know that children and youth contact The MAT program delivers professional with the criminal justice system increase their development sessions to teachers and aides risk of offending? Targeted early intervention which enables them to effectively identify programs for at risk young people are a cost behavioural triggers, defuse potentially violent effective way to reduce crime. situations and to provide alternative strategies Smart Justice for Young People, 2013 which build student confidence and resilience. The Martial Arts Therapy program enables young people to turn their life around, away from drugs, violence, crime and a trajectory to jail, to successfully completing year 12 and a pathway to employment. 2 MATOverviewReport2014 Contents Martial Arts Therapy 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 2. INTRODUCTION: 10 THE MARTIAL ARTS Pilot Program THERAPY PROGRAM 3. PILOT PROGRAM: GOALS, 12 2010 to 2013 ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONCLUSIONS 4. LITERATURE REVIEW 28 5. ASSESSMENT OF THE 34 MAT PILOT PROGRAM IN RELATION TO RESEARCH 6. NATURE OF PROGRAMS 38 AND SERVICES 7. UNIQUE 45 CHARACTERISTICS 8. RETURN ON INVESTMENT 48 9. DELIVERING ON 55 GOVERNMENT POLICY 10. REFERENCES 61 11. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 63 MATOverviewReport2014 3 1. Executive Summary The Martial Arts Therapy (MAT) DEECD monitoring of the pilot Pilot Program was established at the was undertaken by the Eastern beginning of 2010, being auspiced Metropolitan Regional Office, with by the Department of Education authentication of the processes, data and Early Childhood Development and outcomes associated with the (DEECD) for three years, to MAT pilot program implementation. specifically asses the value of the Program to improving educational In support of the MAT Program outcomes in Victoria. intention to become self-sustaining, DEECD is progressively reducing The MAT Program aims to provide their direct financial contribution children and young people with over the period 2014 to 2017 new skills to successfully manage (inclusive). the challenges (social, emotional and behavioural) in their lives, to The MAT Program works to support support their learning, wellbeing and children and youth where nothing retention in education, training or else has worked. It is able to deliver employment. sustainable change in behaviour at school and at home. Reports documenting the outcomes of the MAT Pilot in relation to This final report demonstrates the Goals and Key Performance achievement of Goals and significant Indicators were provided to DEECD outcomes in relation to the original in 2010 and 2011. During 2012 an Key Performance Indicators of the external review of the MAT Pilot MAT Pilot Program 2010-2013. was undertaken by DEECD, which resulted in the pilot being extended into 2013. 4 MATOverviewReport2014 MAT Program Delivery 5000 4000 Life Skills Programs Engagement Support Officer Days 3000 Total Program Delivery 2000 The MAT Program delivery has grown and extended annually over the pilot 1000 period, with an increasing emphasis for support to individual students by 0 Engagement Support Officers. 2010 2011 2012 2013 MAT Program in Schools 2011–2013 MATOverviewReport2014 5 Croydon Community School Council The continuing need for the has been the governing body for the implementation of MAT programs MAT Pilot program. and services is evidenced by recent reports and articles. In April 2013, the Therapeutic Martial Arts Association Incorporated Although the exact number of (TMAA) was established as a not for students with special learning profit organisation with the Board needs in Victoria is not known, it of Directors being responsible for is commonly accepted that about ongoing governance of the MAT 20 out of every 100 students have program. The ownership of the MAT additional needs of some sort. program intellectual property was Having systems in place to identify transferred from MAT Pty Ltd to and support these students in TMAA. a timely and equitable manner is critical to maximising their The MAT program continues to be educational and life outcomes. hosted by Croydon Community Schools are under growing pressure School, as a contributor to EMR from increasing numbers of students Options. During 2013 senior DEECD with special learning needs. and North Eastern Victoria Region Programs for Students with Special Learning officers were briefed on the MAT Needs, Audit Summary, Victorian Auditor- program. General’s Report August 2012 It needs to be noted that over Many young Victorians face the period of the pilot changes in challenges as they move from nomenclature have occurred. The childhood to adulthood, including accredited personnel who provide homelessness, mental health one to one assistance were initially issues, family violence, abuse and Re-direction Aides, then Martial Arts neglect, drug and alcohol issues and Therapy Support Officers (MSO) involvement in the criminal justice and now are Engagement Support system. Officers (ESO), which more clearly Building the Scaffolding VCOSS and Youth conveys the purpose of their role Affairs Council Victoria, 2013 in working with children and young Research shows that one third of people. young people will have had an episode of mental illness by age 25 Similarly, in order to explicitly convey the nature of a final intervention One in Five: Mental Health Research step in the event of an emergency situation where there is imminent Of the students being assisted by MAT danger of harm to the student or to others and all alternative measures Engagement Support Officers during 2013 & to avoid the danger are exhausted, early 2014, 70% had experienced trauma, 28% then protective practices involving were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, restraint by a trained ESO staff can only occur strictly in accordance 62% were experiencing mental health issues, 41% with DEECD policy. had shown violent behaviours, 52% had interacted with police and 72% were connected to the Department of Human Services care arrangements. 6 MATOverviewReport2014 2011/12 They are more likely to exhibit opportunities to improve self- behavioural problems due to esteem were addressed through 4,017 reduced abilities to pay attention/ the program. Furthermore, that the FAMILY VIOLENCE concentrate and poor self-regulation. program provided occupational INCIDENTS Siegenthaler, Munder & Egger, 2012 benefits for the children in home and school environments. “The CHAMPS MAT program was found to be an effective, suitable In 2011/12, Victorian police were and valuable program for children called to 4,017 family violence and families where a parent has incidents where an adolescent aged a mental illness and the child under 18 years was the offender, has at least one behavioural or almost doubling since 2006 (2,154 psychosocial issue that impacts their call outs). “We’re talking about engagement in occupations.” high level violence where parents (Legg, 2013, p.vii) feel very, very scared –stabbings, beatings, broken windows and The independent research based smashed walls.” Jo Howard, evaluation verified that the four Manager Peninsula Health, The issues identified as needs by Age 10 February 2013. Violence by the child participants: help to adolescents to parents and other self-manage behaviours and family members has doubled in emotions; being better able to the last five years and is a major focus/concentrate; involvement concern for police and other in interesting social and leisure agencies. Violence at home is often activities; support regarding having