Raising Expectations

Raising Expectations is a collaboration between the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, TAFE and university partners, and the Victorian Government; it is the only program of its kind in Australia, addressing disparities in further education for care-leavers.

Educational expectations and outcomes for young people in and transitioning from out-of-home care are often low. Few young people transitioning from care go on to higher education after leaving school, compared with approximately 40% of their peers.

For many care-experienced young people, accessing TAFE and university presents significant social and financial barriers; these challenges are not due to a lack of capability but rather a lack of adequate support. Barriers to accessing TAFE or university further exclude young people from opportunities that tertiary qualifications can afford, such as improved employment prospects and earning potential.

Raising Expectations is increasing the participation of young people with a care experience in tertiary education by embedding support on the ground at TAFE and university partners.

In the first year of our program, we identified 43 care-experienced students. In mid-2024, we recorded over 800 care-experienced students studying across three of our partner institutions.

Students with care experience are driven to create positive change within their communities, with many choosing to pursue studies in fields such as community services, social work, education, and healthcare.

There has been a significant increase in the number of care-experienced students completing their TAFE and university courses, transitioning into the workforce with the necessary skills and experience to make an impact in their chosen industry.