Australia

PEDAL - Play, Explore, Discover & Learn, NSW.

MWIA needs your help to support CentaCare Wilcannia-Forbes' innovative new early childhood program in rural NSW. PEDAL aims to support women, children and families who are trapped in cycles of disadvantage facing poor health and education, isolation, generational unemployment, lack of parenting role models, low levels of literacy and numeracy, and abuse and violence.  

PEDAL play groups are set up within primary school grounds in order to provide a non-threatening and friendly environment for vulnerable families. PEDAL builds on the achievements of the Strong Young Mums program (funded by MWIA from 2008-2012) to support mums and give their children a positive start to life.
 

"Each time a child discovers, explores and learns through play, it opens up their world to endless possibilities"
PEDAL Program, NSW

MWIA funding in 2012 and 2013 will be used to hire a PEDAL Coordinator and will assist CentaCare Willcannia-Forbes to create a sustainable PEDAL model that can be carried on by individual schools throughout rural NSW into the future.

Find out more and support the PEDAL program
 

Improving literacy - Reading Recovery in the Kimberley WA

In 2009 MWIA launched “Mary Ward in the Kimberley – Supporting Reading Recovery in the Kimberley”. “Reading Recovery” is an early intervention literacy support program that has helped improve the literacy of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students in the Kimberley.

MWIA through its involvement on the Reading Recovery steering committee assisted in obtaining Federal Government funding, through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, for the Reading Recovery program in the Kimberley until 2012. The Catholic Education Office WA has committed to extending the Reading Recovery program to every Catholic primary school in the Kimberley as part of its Early Literacy Education Program.
 

"Children's confidence and self esteem has increased and they are more positive towards school"
Reading Recovery Teacher

MWIA has now committed to providing grants to 9-10 Catholic Primary Schools in the Kimberley from 2012-2014 which assist schools with much needed reading resources and teacher training to strengthen their Reading Recovery programs. 

Funding for this program was made possible through the generous support of Julianne Maxwell (Roarty ’76), the Roarty family, and Antoine and Anne Bloemen as well as numerous other generous individuals.  We now need your help to continue this vital support.
 
Find out more and support Indigenous literacy

Closing the Gap - Centacare’s OutBack Pitstop 

Outback Pitstop was established in Bourke, NSW with the goal of engaging disadvantaged young Aboriginal men in vocational training and constructive work. The project aims to equip young men (many of whom have been in detention) with a trade or future employment. A fully operational mechanics workshop has been established which is fitted with new tools and safety equipment. Sixteen young men have been involved thus far. The program has been highly successful in reducing motor vehicle offences.

Funding for this project was made possible through a very generous donation by The Flatley Foundation.

Read more about Outback Pitstop
 

Find out more about these projects