Doveton’s model of success
Doveton College is a “second family” to many of its students and parents – a model that is successfully breaking down disadvantage and isolation.
Playgroup coordinator Masooma Ali’s life took a turn for the better when she took a work placement looking after kids at Doveton College while their parents attended adult education classes in 2021.
Living nearby, the stay-at-home mum had felt isolated, stuck, shy and unconfident.
But the college culture was welcoming. Masooma was encouraged, reassured she was doing a great job and that her English communication was clear. Her confidence grew.
After her six week placement, Doveton College asked if Masooma wanted to stay on.
“I’m happiest in here – I don’t feel it’s my workplace. It’s like my family. It gives me a safe environment. My manager doesn’t make me feel like an employee, she hugs me and builds my confidence. Now I feel stronger. I feel I can do anything because of Our Place.”
Masooma Ali, Doveton Playgroup Coordinator
More than a decade ago, Doveton College was the ‘lighthouse’ site for the Our Place model.
It pioneered a wraparound ‘one-stop shop’ of early learning and support services for children and parents – many from diverse cultural and language backgrounds.
On-site were playgroups, after-school sports, holiday programs, maternal and child health nurses, and mental health services.
Parents and caregivers also were given a social point of connection, employment assistance and English-language courses – coupled with on-site child-minding.
Doveton College’s early years director Serena Zito says newly-arrived, refugee-background families feel “more connected” under the model.
“This is a whole new place. It’s hard when you don’t know anyone,” Zito says.
“To have the school here is like a second family – our reception staff speak multiple languages, they have this support around them, they can get to know some friends. They feel belonging.”
Her pupils transition to Prep on the same site – which lessens insecurity, bolsters their confidence. They remain on the same school grounds up to Year 9.
She sees many mothers prosper with English-language classes on-site. It builds their confidence in finding a job.
“Working at Doveton College was like a new world to me, but its model of connection could succeed at many schools. I wouldn’t go back to the old style of services.”
Serena Zito, Doveton College Early Years Director
Recently a 2025 evaluation report looked at an Our Place pilot program that broke down barriers – a maternal and child health (MCH) nurse being introduced to a settlement playgroup at Doveton College.
Funded by 54 Reasons and City of Casey, it addressed a gap where many children from newly-arrived families were missing MCH key ages and stages checks.
It led to families attending MCH for the first time. They were linked to GPs, dental care, speech pathology. Parents reported stronger knowledge in child development, nutrition, sleep routines and managing screen time.
“This pilot highlighted common barriers – such as low service awareness, language challenges and distrust of formal systems,” the 2025 evaluation report stated.
“(It) showed how schools can serve as trusted hubs for holistic, culturally sensitive support.”
The Our Place model has rolled out to eight other Victorian schools, and has proven a winner according to the recent evaluation.
Embedding services in a school that families know and trust broke down entrenched disadvantage. It resulted in 80 per cent of families reporting positive transitions into school, and improvements in education outcomes and school attendance. A resounding 90 per cent of caregivers felt confident supporting their child’s education at home.
Our Place Evaluation Report 2025
“If we want to close equity gaps and improve outcomes, we need approaches that connect education, health and family services around children and communities,” Our Place chief executive Sean Cory said.
This article originally appeared in the Dandenong Journal – Doveton’s model of success