Northern Rivers Education Program –Zephyr Education Inc 

One of the multiple negative impacts of Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) is that children’s education can be affected when they face the daunting prospect of leaving their home and friends to start at a new school. Through funding from NRCF’s signature Community Grants Program, Zephyr Education was able to supply school uniforms, school shoes, school bags, laptops and stationery via DFV support organisations in the Northern Rivers. 

Before the project started, Zephyr Education was already supplying school essentials to a DFV support organisation operating refuges in three towns in the Northern Rivers. The community grant enabled them to not only continue supporting that organisation but also assist three more with around 100 people benefitting from the project. The project involved giving children arriving at DFV organisations in the Northern Rivers the right uniforms and everything else they needed to restart school.

Based on periodic DFV staff surveys and feedback, Zephyr Education recognises that their intervention gives children the best chance to fit in at their new school and successfully restart their education. In some cases, this time-critical intervention has a transformational impact on the children’s lives.  

OUTCOMES: 

• 95% of children experienced an increase in their feeling of wellbeing.
• 90% of children experienced an easier transition back to school. 
• Almost 92% of respondents reported a significant positive impact on the wellbeing of the mothers.   

The Communications and Design Manager of The Family Centre shared her experience of their positive involvement with Zephyr Education – 

  “Last September, The Family Centre formed a relationship with Zephyr Education. In nine months, Zephyr Education has supported 47 families in the Tweed, Byron and Ballina Shires with over $22,000 worth of school uniforms, school shoes, bookpacks, and computers.   

 Prior to our relationship with Zephyr Education, The Family Centre relied on donations from the community, and we were limited in the number of families we could support with education expenses. Our partnership with Zephyr Education has allowed us to support more families in our community.”   

Following the success of the project, Zephyr Education has been encouraged to continue implementing their strategy to support other regions of NSW.