TCH and Surf Coast Secondary extend partnership into 2024

Surf Coast Secondary College student assistant Katrina Simpson, volunteer Desley McKnight, principal Shane Elevato, and wellbeing coordinator Jasmine Hoare join Year 9 students (L-R) Ruby Condon, Lily Jessen, Molly Malone, and Sunny Brogan, and their Little Da Vincis participants. Photo: VINNIE VAN OORSCHOT

TWO Torquay institutions are excited to continue partnership into 2024, on the back of a successful 2023.

Torquay Community House (TCH) and Surf Coast Secondary College will finalise planning in the coming days to extend their alliance into next year.

TCH coordinator Prue Challis said the House is excited to move forward with the school.

“From our perspective this has been an extremely special partnership, we’ve seen such a benefit to students and program participants, and it has just continued to grow in the five years this has been running.

“We’re now seeing friends telling their friends about it, families wanting their children to join in as well, and we can’t wait to see the impact it will have in 2024.”

The partnership originated in 2018 with students learning skills with TCH’s Men’s and Women’s Sheds respectively.

Surf Coast Secondary students now assist with facilitating community lunches each month, assisting the Little Da Vincis program catered at 3-5-year-olds, and the My Mates Program which connects residents with the school’s Year 11 and 12 students as they go into the workforce.

Surf Coast Secondary College principal Shane Elevato, while relatively new in his role, taught at Surf Coast nine years ago, noting there was already a strong connection between the school and TCH at the time.

“I used to take a group of students to work with the Great Ocean Road Coastcare Committee doing coastal gardening, and like this partnership, it is a great example of students connecting with their community and finding their place in the community to find that sense of civic mindedness,” Mr Elevato said.

“There’s lots of avenues here in Torquay to do that, and a lot of our students are really proud to live in Torquay.

“That’s the beauty of meeting and connecting with other people through a partnership like this where you can connect with young kids or senior citizens in a variety of forums to build that connection.

“Everyone wins if we can do that.”

For the full range of programs at TCH, head to torquaycommunityhouse.org.au/whatson/