Media Releases

08 Aug 2010 - NO SCHOOL NO PLAY INITIATIVE TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE IN SCHOOL

Campaign Media Release

MINISTER FOR EDUCATION

MINISTER FOR EMPLOYMENT PARTICIPATION

MINISTER FOR YOUTH AND SPORT

LABOR CANDIDATE FOR LA TROBE


NO SCHOOL NO PLAY INITIATIVE TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE IN SCHOOL

The Gillard Labor Government today announced it would form a partnership with eight national sporting organisations to develop programs to boost school attendance.

The No School No Play initiative will use the power of sport to keep kids in school and give all young Australians the best possible start in life.

Minister for Youth and Sport, Kate Ellis and Labor Candidate for La Trobe, Laura Smyth, joined some of Australia's leading sporting officials, players and coaches to launch the policy in Melbourne today.

Minister for Employment Participation, Mark Arbib, said the initiative would be delivered in partnership with the Australian Rugby League, Australian Football League, Australian Rugby Union, Football Federation of Australia, Netball Australia, Basketball Australia, Hockey Australia, and Cricket Australia.

"There is nothing more important than ensuring children attend school so they can get a good education and have the best chance at a great future," Mark Arbib said.

"We know that young people who don't finish Year 12 are more than twice as likely to be unemployed or not go on to further study than those who do.

"Completing school vastly increases a young person's chances of moving into employment and the first step is making sure students who are in school attend every day.

"According to the most recent statistics, school attendance at age 15 is at 89 per cent but that falls to 81 per cent at age 16, and 66 per cent at age 17.

"For Indigenous young people, school attendance rates are lower  73 per cent for 15 year olds, 55 per cent for 16 year olds and 36 per cent for 17 year olds.

"Sport is a great motivator for many young people. That's why we're working with the eight national sporting organisations, who will develop plans for specific local projects working with schools and sports clubs."

Kate Ellis said on the sporting field young people learn the value of team work, discipline and hard work. No School No Play aims to ensure these values are also associated with the class room.

"No School No Play recognises that sport can provide powerful encouragement for young people to attend school, and that initiatives like these are the most effective at a local level," Kate Ellis said.

"We want to build an understanding among our kids that school is as essential to getting ahead in life as training is to playing a good game on the weekend.

"Under No School No Play, sporting organisations will include initiatives such as students making a commitment to attend school regularly through 'player codes of honour' or signing 'school attendance self-declarations.

"Other approaches may include local sporting club coaches providing mentoring and leadership development for students or rewarding improved school attendance with coaching sessions by sporting ambassadors. "

Laura Smyth said: "Programs like these are so important in helping young people to make the right choices and stay in school to get an education.

"Communities like La Trobe can certainly benefit from the No School No Play initiative."

No School No Play builds on existing Federal Government programs such as Youth Connections and the Parent and Community Engagement Program. It is consistent with the Gillard Labor Government's policy to promote the benefits of sport, entitled Australian Sports: The Pathway to Success.

The $2 million funding for the No School No Play initiative has been allocated from the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation program that was announced in the Budget.

MELBOURNE
8 AUGUST 2010

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