For more than seven years, the Portland Secondary College Re-Engagement (RE) Program has received support from FFV and the Portland Lodge of Victoria.
Situated in South Portland, this satellite campus provides a crucial lifeline for students who have disengaged from mainstream education due to challenges such as trauma, mental health issues, anxiety and neurodivergence.
Since 2011, the program has educated more than 200 young people, helping them transition to further education, training, or employment. With a focus on applied learning, the program runs a junior and senior class for three hours each day, aiming to improve literacy, numeracy and social skills.
In Term 2 2024, the RE Program launched a mural project, facilitated by local artists Vicki Reynolds and Chris Webb. Meeting with students every Friday morning, the artists and students bonded over 11 weeks, while creating space-themed art using pencil drawings, paper mâché and block printing. The collaboration not only produced stunning art but also significantly enhanced the students’ social interactions, both with each other and the wider community.
Portland Lodge’s Lionel Shelton has observed these positive changes firsthand, noting that the program has helped students build confidence and develop stronger social connections.
