Youth workers driving student success

There’s a sense of magic when you enter a Carinity Education school. It’s hard to put your finger on. You can see it just by watching the staff and students interacting.

Travel to any of its five schools across Queensland – in Townsville, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Hervey Bay and Brisbane – and you will feel uplifted by the tremendous impact of Carinity Education upon young people’s lives.


Youth worker Josh Noovao plays a vital role in the development of students at Carinity Education Gladstone
Youth worker Josh Noovao plays a vital role in the development of students at Carinity Education Gladstone.

Four Carinity Education campuses are non-fee-paying special assistance schools which provide an alternative education option for vulnerable young people who haven’t had the easiest start to their education.

A fifth school in Townsville provides culturally sensitive education to a student cohort who largely come from Indigenous Australian backgrounds.

Part of the Carinity Education magic is created through the integration of youth workers into the classroom to support students and the specialist teachers.

Integrating youth workers in the classroom has been a Carinity Education approach since its first school, Southside in Brisbane, opened 25 years ago.

Leann Faint, Principal of Southside school in the suburb of Sunnybank, says youth workers at the all-girls school “support the students and the teachers during learning”.

“This might require some soothing, or some encouraging, or some hurdle-help if they are having trouble getting started,” Leann says.

“Our youth workers create a secure base or safe haven for our young people. By creating strong relationships with the students, the youth workers become someone that can get in alongside them and help them to regulate their emotions when they are feeling sad, angry or anxious.”


Carinity Education Southside youth worker Mackenzie Dalgliesh assists student Nelleah with her school work
Carinity Education Southside youth worker Mackenzie Dalgliesh assists student Nelleah with her school work.

Fulfilling a vital role by contributing to the success of students’ academic and personal achievements, school youth workers wear many hats.

This ranges from driving the school’s dedicated buses, running youth programs and coaching sports teams, to encouraging students back to school when they have disengaged from their learning or had a period of absence.

“I like to sit in with most of the classes to help support our young people with their schoolwork and build their academic confidence,” says Mackenzie Dalgliesh, a youth worker at Carinity Education Southside.

“I love helping young people feel comfortable to share in class, ask questions and be confident in their academic abilities.

“By taking the time to listen to a young person’s needs, anxieties or worries about school, it not only helps them to feel heard and understood, but it also helps me to create an environment where they can thrive academically.”


Carinity Education Southside Southside student Sarah spends time with youth worker Mackenzie on an excursion to the beach
Carinity Education Southside student Sarah spends time with youth worker Mackenzie on an excursion to the beach.

Josh Noovao, a youth worker at Carinity Education Gladstone, plays a vital role in the personal development of each student. He describes his role as, “Supporting young people in their education and wellbeing – and finding that good balance between the two”.

“A child cannot be educated if their overall social, emotional and wellbeing is not first addressed and supported,” Josh explains.

Known as ‘Cooki’ by adoring students, Josh attributes positive relationships as the key to helping students’ academic success in the classroom.

“Once a relationship has been formed you can encourage them to engage in activities at school, whether that be their classes, youth programs, or extracurricular activities. There is no set-in-stone unique way to engage a student; all it takes is building a relationship and connection with a person. Humans need connection and these young people crave it more than ever,” Josh says.

“It’s extremely rewarding to be able to invest in and support a young person who everyone had given up on, give them a chance and encourage them to have the belief that they can win, they can succeed, and they can make something of themselves.”

In addition to classroom support, Josh runs wellbeing programs for students culminating in an end-of-year camp for male students designed to “get them out of their comfort zone and expand on the potential every one of them has.”


Josh Noovao enjoys engaging with students in the outdoors
Josh Noovao enjoys engaging with Carinity Education Gladstone students in the outdoors.

“To see the growth within the boys, week in and week out, and finally seeing them perform at camp and doing activities such as high ropes courses, hikes, team building and survival skill activities, made me very satisfied,” Josh recalls.

“It created such a positive experience for these boys. The fun we had was a massive career highlight for me and I know it would have been a memorable time in the lives of these young men.”

Students Ford and Connor attended the end-of-year camp at Mount Tamborine in 2021. Ford believes the camp has helped him “become a better version of himself” through learning leadership skills he now utilises to be a positive influence on younger students and a role model to those around him.

“The camp helped me to grow as a person and strengthened the friendships I have, as well as to create new friendships. Camps like this keep me motivated to try harder,” Ford says.

The experience also had a profound positive effect on Connor, who at times had thought he may not finish high school. Since attending boys’ camp and seeing his older brother graduate from Carinity Education Gladstone last year, Connor is more determined than ever to finish school and accomplish his goals.

“My experience at camp made me realise I am far more capable of things than I was aware of, and that I can trust and rely on so many people from our school community. I feel like anything is possible now, with hard work and the support of my Carinity family.”

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