Service-Learning Australia

From the late 1990s service-learning has been implemented in some schools in Australia, perhaps most prominently in West Australia where a group of Catholic schools initially implemented Christian Service-Learning, meeting religious education outcomes.

• 2002, Service-Learning Australia (then Empower) introduced the concept of service-learning to the NSW DET and the CSO, and assisted in writing a School Developed Content Endorsed course on Service-Learning for year 10 students, which was piloted in 2003 and 2004.
• 2005 – 2010, service-learning was the pedagogy used by clusters of schools in the Australian Government’s Values Education Good Practice Schools Projects, phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3.
• 2006, Australian Government (DEST) commissioned a service-learning scoping study.
• 2006 and 2007 DEST funded National service-learning conferences.
• 2007, the West Australian Government introduced a mandatory 20 hours community service program for years 10 and 11 students.  Service-learning was promoted as part of this program. (The program is no longer mandatory).
• 2008, Service-Learning Australia (then Empower) organized a Service-Learning Symposium, hosted by the University of Newcastle.  Following this symposium a Hunter Service-Learning Partnership was formed with representatives from educational bodies, government, community groups, business and students.
• 2009, Service-Learning Australia (then Empower) worked with education providers and local government in the Hunter Region to launch the first TTT Day.
• 2010, the New South Wales Government introduced a volunteering and service-learning program for years 9 and 10 students.  Students completing a minimum of 20 hours service receive a Premier’s Award.  Service-learning is promoted as part of this program.