Danielle Woolage of CareSouth

Raising literacy among the vulnerable makes for a better community for all

The statistics are stark. Young people in foster care – or out-of-home care (OOHC) – are less likely to achieve national literacy and numeracy standards when compared with all students in Australia and 75% don’t complete 12 years of school. They are also 12 times more likely than the general population to enter the juvenile justice system and 10 times more likely to have children who require foster care.

A former sub-editor and journalist with the Illawarra Mercury, Danielle Woolage is now a team member at CareSouth, one of the state’s most dynamic charitable organisations. She firmly believes that literacy is the bridge between social-economic disadvantage and a functioning society. With 92% of OOHC children at age 7 below the average reading age, an education-based mentoring program run by CareSouth aims to break this cycle. The program has an accredited Story Dog – Buster – and students are encouraged to read books with the cuddly cavoodle to improve their literacy skills and love of reading. 

“I worked with children and young people in foster care and their birth families,” says Ms Woolage. “I noticed a real gap in their literacy skills. The Homework Hub is designed to close the learning gap for vulnerable children and ultimately increase their social and economic inclusion and break the cycle of disadvantage. Students in the program are able to experience positive peer relationships with children from similar backgrounds as well as mentors from the community and university. The Homework Hub encourages young people to stay in school and aspire to post-school education.”

Since the Homework Hub began in 2015, CareSouth has established a partnership with UOW’s Education Faculty. The partnership is mutually beneficial in that it provides placement opportunities for pre-service teachers and allows them to gain experience working with vulnerable children. In turn, the teaching students not only support at-risk young people with their homework but help them build their confidence and self-esteem.

“Teaching students are able to do 30 hours of volunteer placement in the Homework Hub to satisfy their Social Equity course requirements and many stay on after the required placement as volunteers,” says Ms Woolage. “This partnership is mutually beneficial in that vulnerable students receive the help they need both educationally and socially, while teaching students get hands-on experience working with vulnerable children.

“The Homework Hub relies on volunteer mentors, who not only encourage academic achievement but also help students develop their social skills and boost their confidence through positive role modelling. These volunteers are helping to build a better community and a better future.”

The funding from the IMB Bank Community Foundation has paid for essential tools of modern teaching, including iPads and laptops. “Many students in the Homework hub don’t have access to personal computers or Wi-Fi at home,” Ms Woolage explains, “so they rely on accessing technology in the Homework Hub to do their required school work.”

Find out more about the work of CareSouth and the Homework Hub