When 16-year-old Susie* was referred to Navigator, she was rarely attending school and struggling with her mental health. The school had tried to help but nothing seemed to work, and the family didn’t know where to turn.
“Navigator is a program for young people who have become disengaged from education,” said Navigator Case Manager who has been a LGBTQIA+ case manager at AV for two years. “We work with them for about a year to try to get them back into education, whether that be at their original school, a new one, or a totally different pathway.”
The Navigator Case Manager offered to text Susie, rather than setting up face-to-face meetings, so she could build a relationship at her own pace. Help was offered so that the family could arrange flexible online learning that prioritised her health and wellbeing, so she could get back to school without feeling overwhelmed.
“It felt like nobody understood how badly I was suffering and how every day was a struggle,” said Susie. “The Navigator Case Manager was excellent. I was made to feel heard and welcomed, and I got my life back on track.”
In her first term working with the Navigator Case Manager, Susie achieved 70 per cent attendance in the new learning environment. She’s now thriving at school and has big dreams for her future.
In 2023-24, 847 young people were supported to reengage with their education through the Navigator program.
