Berry Street Web Docs BEST Centre Annual Report 2009 | Page 5

to attend mainstream school.

B.E.S.T. CENTRE – Morwell Campus
In 2009 the Morwell Campus was successful in
accessing targeted funding to support the special
needs of students under the ‘severe behaviour
disorder’ for 19 students.
Many of our students had not accessed additional
specialist resources previously in their educational
histories.
All of our students underwent diagnostic
assessments to enable B.E.S.T Centre program
staff to determine their educational functioning
and identify areas for support for students.
During 2009, we provided a school program to 41
students, 34 boys and 7 girls. 14 of our students
were Indigenous. Outcomes and destination data
for these students include:
• 10 moved away from the area but were
referred to our outreach youth services to
support their transition.

Student Attendance
Students enrolled at the Noble Park Campus attended,
on average, 32% of the time. Review of attendance
data for Noble Park indicates that for many students
this attendance rate is most frequently impacted
by personal issues for students and their families
(including periods of time incarcerated), living
arrangements (placement moves within the Out of
Home Care system) and by other expectations placed
on these students from external forces (such as
attending court, Child Protection requirements, etc).
Students enrolled at the Morwell Campus
attended,on average, 73% of the time, an increase
of 13% from 2008. A combination of factors has
contributed to this increased attendance rate:
timetable consistency, introduction of 1:1 remedial
support, mentoring, strengthening relationships
between students, families and teaching staff,
clear rules, regulations and boundaries, and
committed classroom objectives with relevant
content that addresses individual needs, desires
and interests.

• 12 returned to the B.E.S.T Centre from
2008; with 14 new students being enrolled
at the commencement of 2009.
• During the year, 3 gained employment
through traineeships and an apprenticeship
• 8 undertook a transition to Year 11 or a
Vocational Education & Training course at a
local Secondary College
• 8 transferred to the Job Service
Pre-employment Program - Go For Work
• Average age was 14 years
• 10 students undertook White Card OH&S
formal orientation to prepare for pre-vocation
training offered by our Job Service Program –
Go for Work

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