Plan Australia, in partnership with the Youth Research Centre, at the University of Melbourne, and RMIT University, has been awarded an Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project grant, valued at $283,000 over three years, to generate a new model of sustainable partnership across NGOs and learning institutions with the aim to provide youth-led, global education programs for school-aged youth.  

Known as the Global Connections Program, the project will facilitate the development of effective processes toward young people's greater participation in social life and will focus on social connections across racial and religious boundaries. 

Plan CEO, Ian Wishart, said the project will directly address two areas of immediate national concern: young peoples' wellbeing and Australia's relationship with its neighbours.

"We look forward to working in collaboration with the University of Melbourne and RMIT University over the next three years to further strengthen our global learning programs and resources. We seek to move beyond the idea of a program that is based on the provision of adult designed information to a program that is based on the genuine exchange and articulation of children’s experiences and concerns through their active participation," said Ian Wishart.

The Chief Investigator from the Youth Research Centre at the University of Melbourne, Ani Wierenga, states the grant is a great achievement and the result of ongoing three year collaboration between the University of Melbourne, RMIT University and Plan.

• Learn more about ARC Linkage Projects
  
• Learn more about Plan’s Global Learning
  

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Media contacts:

Tim Cansfield-Smith, Plan Brand & Communications Manager      
03 9672 3656 / 0411 642 194
 
Emma Smith, Plan Media Officer     
03 9672 3652 / 0409 004 372

For further information on the participating organisations, visit:
www.arc.gov.au
www.education.unimelb.edu.au
www.rmit.edu.au