Why Learning Without Barriers?

A successful education journey is essential for a positive future. However, many children and young people growing up in foster or kinship care are at risk of not achieving their educational potential as they are often impacted by complex histories and challenges.

As a major provider of out of home care for children and young people in Australia, Life Without Barriers recognise that we play an important role – not only are we responsible for ensuring children and young people have the best start in life, but also to support them reach their educational/learning goals and full potential.

We provide our foster, kinship carers and our workforce with the materials and resources that they need to support learning at the key developmental stages in ways that work for them.

What do we want to achieve?

Revitalise education and enhance learning outcomes for children and young people in out-of-home care by addressing individual barriers, challenging systemic barriers, and influencing positive change that promotes educational achievement.

Life Without Barriers works in partnership with children, carers, families, communities, key government, and education specialists to inspire a love of life-long learning to provide the support children and young people require to achieve their dreams and aspirations. Here’s how it works:

Lifelong Learners

Children and young people are engaged and inspired to participate in education

Confident Caregivers

Staff and carers are a driving force in setting children and young people up for educational success

Purposeful Partnerships

Our positive relationships with government, educators, and our sector, help us to accelerate the pace of change

Focussed Organisation

Life Without Barriers implements the structural, systemic and cultural changes required to deliver our educational strategy

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people

Critical considerations:

  • Creating opportunities for connection to culture including connection of country, community and schools
  • Respect for First Nations ways of learning, connection to country and community participation

CALD and differently abled children and young people

Critical considerations:

  • Understanding and respecting the individual cultural, language and differing abilities
  • Authentic relationships, hearing their voice and influencing systemic barriers that limit growth

Our Commitment to The Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration

“Targeted support can help learners such as those from low socioeconomic backgrounds, those from regional, rural and remote areas, migrants and refugees, learners in out of home care, homeless young people, and children with disability to reach their potential. This means tailoring to the needs of individuals across a system that prioritises equity of opportunity and that supports achievement.”

Recognising that education has the power to transform lives, read the full Education Declaration

Resources