McAuley ConnectEd
McAuley ConnectEd supports children in emergency accommodation to remain engaged in their education, even during periods of crisis.
Disrupted education
Each year, thousands of children experiencing family violence and homelessness in Victoria are disconnected from education, through no fault of their own.
Often displaced into motels, refuges and crisis accommodation, many are unable to attend school safely or consistently, placing them at significant risk of falling behind and disengaging from learning altogether.
Bridging the gap
McAuley ConnectEd provides flexible, trauma-informed learning opportunities for children in emergency accommodation who are unable to attend school because of homelessness or family violence.
Learning is delivered through virtual delivery and is tailored to each child’s needs, interests and readiness to learn.
McAuley ConnectEd recognises that children experiencing family violence may not always be ready to engage in traditional learning. The program takes a child-led approach, focusing first on safety, wellbeing and connection.
Through consistent relationships with educators and flexible learning opportunities, children are supported to maintain their identity as learners, build confidence and continue learning despite the instability of emergency accommodation.
McAuley ConnectEd is not a replacement for school, but a bridge back to it, helping children maintain their connection to learning until they can safely return to the classroom or enrol in a new school.
Key features:
- Up to two hours of daily learning engagement through virtual delivery
- Learning aligned with the Victorian Curriculum where appropriate
- Trauma-informed educational design that prioritises safety, regulation and readiness to learn
- Consistent educators who build supportive relationships with children
- A short-term model designed to support successful return to mainstream schooling
Trauma-informed support
Drawing on Monash University’s expertise in digital learning design and delivery, McAuley ConnectEd prevents education from becoming another casualty of family violence and homelessness.
It is delivered in partnership with MacKillop Education, whose trauma-informed education team fosters a safe and supportive learning environment that responds to the complex needs of children in crisis and empowers them to re-engage with their education.