Enhancing participation - new possibilities for disadvantaged Australians
Tim Marchant and Peter Howard
Mission Australia and Australian Catholic University
Contact Email:   marchanttmissionaustralia.com.au

This paper explores recent collaborative research into an innovative educational program working with Australians facing disadvantage. The program, Catalyst-Clemente, is based on an international model and has been delivering university-level humanities education in a community setting in Australia since 2003.

In the second half of 2006, Mission Australia, The St Vincent de Paul Society and Australian Catholic University conducted a study of participants’ perceptions of the impact of Catalyst-Clemente. The research was conducted at three sites across three points in time with the four participant groups: lecturers, learning partners, community agency staff and students.

Catalyst-Clemente students often face significant life challenges which might include amongst others drug and alcohol misuse, mental health issues and the risk of homelessness. Research findings indicate that the program, a genuine inter-sectoral collaboration, has significant impact on the participant groups, especially the students, beyond traditional measures such as course completion. This paper reports on these findings outlining some of the impacts, most particularly in relation to self, social interaction, relationships with others, learning, community participation and the future. The research indicates that participation in the Catalyst-Clemente course at an appropriate point in the life-course can affect real transitions resulting in enhanced social and economic participation.

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Marchant_72.pdf

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