Mothers deliver VCE

By Monique Ebrington
YOUNG mothers from the Upper Yarra Community House’s VCAL group juggled story time and study time to achieve their Year 12 Victorian Certificate Education late last year.
The UYCH has developed a specific class structure and classroom for the young mums’ study, with desks, computers and a joining sleep/play room for the babies.
Youth education and training manager Rebecca Halit said it provided the perfect space for young mothers wanting to complete their VCE.
“One of the greatest aspects of the program is that the mums rarely want to leave their young children, so the program accommodates the babies as well while the mums are learning,” Mrs Halit said.
The group of four young mothers attended classes two days a week, one spent with tutor Rachel Mager covering their Year 12 studies and Jenny Syme covered the lessons for a Certificate III in Childcare, which the women also obtained.
Mother of three and 23-year-old graduate Sarah Featherey left school early to start a family and said she hoped completing her VCAL will get her a job as a kinder aid or childcare worker.
Rhiannon Thomas was pregnant with her now two-year-old daughter Leeora when she joined the group.
“I was already disappointed for not finishing my Year 11 and 12 at high school. I didn’t think I could go back into study because I was pregnant,” Rhiannon said.
“I heard about this class and it was just great to have people to talk to about school and about babies.”
While both girls were happy to graduate, along with students Bianca Dawson and Kimberley McHale, they admitted that they would miss the young mums’ class that Rhiannon believed should be adopted by more communities.
“I think they should have courses like this everywhere. There are young women in every community who need the support and want to study,” she said.
“Having a child young isn’t the end of your life, it’s the beginning.”