Armadale Senior High School has been selected as the location for a three-year pilot of the Full Service Schools program.
Full Service Schools provide a range of services and activities, often beyond the school day, to help meet the needs of children, their families and the wider community.
A Full Service School could include services such as after-school activities, vacation care, life skills training (e.g. parenting support, prevention of teenage pregnancy and substance abuse, and social and relationship skills), TAFE/VET services, specialist health services, classes to reintegrate early school leavers and part-time community-based projects.
The pilot project will see Armadale Senior High School become a youth and community service hub for families in the Armadale-Kelmscott region.
A number of existing partnerships and services at the school, such as those offered through the Trade Training Centre, could be extended and new partnerships developed to increase community access to school facilities and programs.
This could include offering services outside school hours, such as short TAFE courses for the community, utilising school facilities and access to the school library.
The Department of Education is the lead agency for the Full Service Schools pilot project, working with the departments of Communities; Justice and Health, and the WA Police Force.
A steering committee with representatives from each agency is currently being formed and will be responsible for developing an operational plan and determining the programs to be offered at the school. It will work closely with representatives from Armadale Senior High School, local schools and youth and community groups who will provide feedback and suggestions on pilot services.