Welcome

Operation Newstart has grown from the ground up. Newstart was developed by teachers and police who came in contact with students disengaged from education on a daily basis. They recognised together we all do better.

Operation Newstart is a partnership between the Department of Education & Early Childhood Development (DEECD) and Victoria Police. Newstart is passionately supported by community organizations, health professionals, other emergency services, further education providers, local businesses and industry, parents and sponsors who see Operation Newstart works!!!!

To learn more, click on the Operation Newstart Video link on the right.

Visit each of our Operation Newstart programs by clicking on ONS Locations on the main menu bar.

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Operation Newstart Beginnings

The first Newstart was established at Mt Erin College, Frankston in 1997, Operation Newstart Southern. We have now grown to 7 programs, 6 across metropolitan Melbourne and 1 in regional Victoria. Southern was followed by Western which commenced in 1999, followed by Northern, 2001, Southeastern, 2004, Shepparton, 2007, Casey, 2008 and Eastern, 2009.

click here. to see more of Newstart’s beginnings and comments made by Peter Hillary, mountain climber and adventurer, after 10 years of Newstart operation.

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Operation Newstart Victoria

Operation Newstart Victoria (ONV) was established in 2007 to support, grow and evolve the Newstart concept. Part of our evolution is increasing the support to all programs by employing mental health professionals to promote good mental health practices for students and families. The Mazda Foundation in 2009 generously provided $300,000 over 3 years to support this progress.

We see Operation Newstart as being a whole of community support for kids who are becoming disengaged from education. A glance at the programs run by each Newstart clearly demonstrates the breadth of support provided by local communities. Former Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon is Newstart’s patron.

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Your Say

If you are a past participant of one of the Operation Newstart programs, we would love to hear from you, go to Your Say on the menu bar to bring us up-to-date with what you’re doing now. Likewise if you are the parent or carer or teacher or have come in contact with a Newstart participant we would also really appreciate your feedback.

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What We Do

Newstart participants do not necessarily fall into the “low academic achievers” category that many label those students/young people who fail to make it in the school environment. In fact, many of the participants have proved to be ‘gifted’ but as a result of a variety of circumstances have been unable to demonstrate this characteristic consistently in the formal school setting. One of the main aims of this program is to find the key to unlock the individual from his/her current situation and allow him/her to move on to the positive next phase in either their secondary schooling or post secondary schooling stage. The program is very much based on the notion of finding a more innovative way of letting young people help themselves.  (John Burrell, past principal Mount Erin College, 1998)

8 x students spend a school term with a Police and Teacher Facilitator. Together they provide a multi-layered intervention of activities that creatively engage and challenge each student in a process of change. They include adventure based activities, involving problem-solving and team-building, music therapy, TAFE taster vocational orientation visits, and working in sessions with parents/carers and students to rebuild relationships. They develop a wide range of skills, building self esteem and respect. During 2008 Newstart directly assisted 192 high risk students. Since 1997 over 1,000 students have participated. In 2009, more than 200 students will undertake the course.

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Research Says

Early school leaving costs Australia an estimated $2.6 billion a year in higher social welfare, health and crime prevention costs and lower tax revenue, productivity and GDP. This does not include the human costs that result from the continuing cycle of disadvantage that follows from the non-completion of school. (Doxa Youth Foundation)

Young people, up to the age of 24 years, represent 32 per cent of Victoria’s total population. People in this age group however, are consistently over-represented in our state’s crime and road crash statistics. In 2007, young people accounted for 47 per cent of offenders processed for criminal offences. (Victoria Police Child & Youth Strategy)

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Policy Says

Newstart contributes to DEECD goals that;

All children are engaged in and benefiting from schooling & Young people make a successful transition from school to further education and/or work that provides further training opportunities (DEECD Corporate Plan 2009-2011), and forms part of the Victoria Police commitment to engage with our partners in local communities to work with young people who are at risk of becoming offenders or victims of crime to foster their social development, build their self esteem and help them better connect with their local community. (Victoria Police Strategic Plan 2008-2013)

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Operation Newstart Funding

The salaries of the Teacher and Police facilitators are paid by DEECD & Victoria Police. The schools where the participating students are enrolled contribute a small portion of funds they receive for each enrolled student. All other funding is raised from the communities where each Newstart is located or through sponsors, philanthropic organisations and charities. Save the Children Australia is a strong supporter of all Newstart programs and in addition has contributed significantly to the establishment of Operation Newstart Shepparton. Save the Children Australia currently employs a Youth Worker facilitator to support the police and teacher facilitator at Shepparton. Each Operation Newstart is truly a community partnership.

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Your Support Welcome

If you are interested in how you can support Operation Newstart please ontact our Executive Officer, Phil Wheatley – see contact us . You can support Operation Newstart financially via our electronic link by going to the Donate button at the top of the page or by contacting our Executive Officer Phil Wheatley. All donations to Operation Newstart are tax deductible.

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Outcomes/Evaluations

Newstart means lower levels of offending and victimization and better outcomes for young people and their families.

A Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis of the Shepparton Newstart program indicates a social return of at least $3.68 for every dollar invested in the program. This is largely attributable to improved educational and vocational training outcomes for participants which result in higher lifetime earnings.

Click Here to follow link for evaluation of Operation Newstart Shepparton published in August 2010.

Click Here to follow link to find out more re Operation Newstart Victoria involvement as a partner in a longitudinal study, conducted by Melbourne university and the Murchdoch Childrens Institute, known as the outdoor Youth Programs Partnership.

Click Here to follow link to see the Operation Newstart Western Progress and Evaluation Report (1999-2006).

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Strategy Documents

The following strategy documents may be useful to those seeking further insight into Operation Newstart Victoria.

Operation Newstart Investment Logic Map Adobe PDF document – 228 KB
Casey Memorandum of Understanding Adobe PDF document – 86 KB
Operations Manual Adobe PDF document – 254 KB
SDQ Graphs Adobe PDF document – 14 KB
Operation Newstart Full Write Up Adobe PDF document – 62 KB
Draft Regional ONS Scale-up Plan_100721 Adobe PDF document – 1024 KB
Victoria Police Youth Strategy Adobe PDF document – 2960 KB