Beacon Program

03-August-2011

Mr CRAIG BAUMANN (Port Stephens—Parliamentary Secretary) [6.14 p.m.]: Today I speak about an important contract about to be signed in my electorate by teenagers at Irrawang High School in Raymond Terrace. There is something in the air in Port Stephens empowering our students. It is powerful and contagious. It is not Facebook or Twitter or the latest hilarious YouTube sensation. It is the enthusiasm for a project that is inspiring and motivating students to stay in school, obtain a job or choose a positive pathway that enables successful transition to employment or further education and training.
I refer to the Beacon Program, which many in this House may be familiar with, as the non-profit organisation is now in 118 secondary schools in Australia. The Beacon Program belief is that every young Australian can develop an independent will to achieve personal success and success for their community. I was fortunate to be a guest at a recent business breakfast at Irrawang High School in Raymond Terrace to launch the Beacon Program at the school. The high school already places considerable emphasis on securing positive pathways to employment for its students. A key strategy it employs is to harness the wisdom, experience and generosity of employers and other community members who are willing to give their time and knowledge. And given they have.
Lue Fagan, the school's new Community Engagement Officer, is charged with the role of improving the school's profile and image in the local community. Some members may remember Lue as the electorate officer of my predecessor and good mate, John Bartlett. Lue has told me the school community is buzzing with excitement about the contract, which 180 year 10 students will sign this month. It is the first contract that most of them will ever sign—the next, no doubt, will be a phone contract—and perhaps the most important. At the breakfast I was more than impressed by the year 10 Beacon ambassadors for the school: Jyana Catic, Tim Higginbottom, Marc Hodgson and Jelesa Whitchurch.
These fine young people, who have been mentored by Ms Adele Robinson, will keep the rest of their year 10 peers up to date with the program. I also want to mention the year 11 hospitality students who planned, prepared, cooked and served the breakfast under the guidance of Mrs Jenny Sellers. The enthusiasm of the students and their teachers for this program is palpable. That partly could be because the school's principal, Col Elliott, an effervescent educator who is always looking for ways to improve the lives of his students, is so enthusiastic. The motto of Irrawang High School is "Integrity" and its slogan "Achievement through learning and participation". The school is living up to this creed every day and we wish them well for the future of this program.
The Beacon Foundation philosophy is that while government can provide stimuli to youth unemployment, the corporate world can play an important role in providing a bright future for the next generation of Australians through partnering schools. Beacon is not new to Port Stephens. Other high schools in my electorate involved in Beacon in 2011 are St Philips Christian College with 44 students, Tomaree High School with 223 students and Hunter River High School at Raymond Terrace with 120 students. When a signing has taken place the huge signed boards are proudly hung in the school's assembly hall so that future students can see the importance placed on the charter signing. The sign reads:

I willingly commit to achieving personal success through the Beacon Program.

I will pursue a positive pathway in further education, training or employment.

John Bartlett, my predecessor, was instrumental in introducing Beacon to Tomaree High School. He saw the name of the program evolve from Beacon to No Dole to Real Futures. John chaired the committee and attempted to pass it on to me when he retired from this place. I say attempted because John's passion for Real Futures, our Sister Cities committee and the RAAF Citizen of the Year Committee was such that I asked John to continue his roles, and he did so until his untimely death. The work done by the Committee of Tomaree Real Futures is of incalculable value to the young beneficiaries of the program.

Time does not allow me to mention all the committee members by name. However, I should recognise Port Stephens mayor and Real Futures deputy-chair Bob Westbury, who was recruited by John before he was elected to Port Stephens Council, as well as a recent benefactor and now treasurer, Jeff D'Albora. Most boaties in this place would know of Jeff D'Albora. I encourage all members to investigate, encourage and facilitate a Beacon Program in their electorate and join me in asking the Minister for Education for modest funding to be applied to each school committee. I guarantee the returns will far outweigh the costs. Beacon is purely about the future of our children and we should all support this successful and innovative program.