Education equals opportunity

The St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria is passionate about helping young people fulfil their potential. Our Education Programs are proudly inclusive and welcome all students. We serve young people from families experiencing social and economic disadvantage, families who speak English as an additional language and refugees.

We support students with advanced skills and those who require additional support. We operate in Dandenong, Heidelberg West and Noble Park see links below.

The programs assist students with literacy, numeracy and general social, emotional and academic support.

Each education program team (a paid coordinator and trained volunteers) provides a friendly learning environment in which students can improve their learning skills and attitudes and increase their confidence in interacting with adult volunteers and peers.

We focus on a strength-based approach, which means we build on students' skills and develop a growth mindset (believing that abilities can be improved through effort and action).

The team encourages collaboration, promotes social inclusion, works on developing a growth mindset and showcases best learning practices.

In our participant surveys, students report that the volunteers help them to improve academic results, increase social and academic confidence, and develop better friendships and social involvement.

Students who attend until their VCE years have credited getting great results and the support they received to enter university as among the benefits our program provided on their learning journey.

Want to become a volunteer?

If you are someone who has a growth mindset (the belief that talents can be developed through hard work), loves learning, wants to support a young person in developing a love of learning and has the time to commit a 2-3 hours every week, please apply now.

To become a volunteer, the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria requires Police Checks and Working with Children Checks to be done.