Education and support for disadvantaged adults
Clemente Fitzroy is a humanities-based higher education program for people experiencing disadvantage and social isolation.
It provides the opportunity and support to help vulnerable people make positive changes in their lives.
What is Clemente Fitzroy?
People who have experienced mental illness, addiction, homelessness and/or imprisonment can often face significant disadvantage and life challenges. Clemente Fitzroy provides support and encouragement to help people get their life back on track.
Clemente students study four humanities subjects (units), which run for one semester each. Each student is matched with a volunteer Learning Partner who provides academic support and encouragement.
Students also have access to psychological support from a qualified counsellor.
What are the benefits?
After completing four units, students receive a Certificate of Liberal Arts from the Australian Catholic University. This can lead to further tertiary education and/or employment opportunities.
Perhaps more importantly, Clemente Fitzroy gives people an opportunity to gain hope, a sense of well-being, and renewed self-respect and determination.
Eligibility
Clemente Fitzroy is available to people who have experienced significant disadvantage.
We invite people from all backgrounds to apply. You must be 18 years or older and have:
- a desire to learn
- a commitment to attend weekly lectures and learning sessions
- basic literacy: the ability to read and understand a newspaper
- Australian citizenship or a student visa
- stable housing
You must not be currently enrolled at university.
Fees
Clemente Fitzroy is free of charge.
Learning Partners
Learning Partners play a vital role in supporting students to take on the challenge of study. Learning Partners do not need to be experts in the unit subjects. They simply need to read the material taught in class so they can help students with their studies.
CatholicCare screens, trains and supports Learning Partners through our Volunteer Program. People with degree level education or higher are invited to get involved.
Learning Partners need to commit to 90 minutes a week over a 13-week semester to attend briefing sessions with lecturers and weekly tutorials with students.
To find out more about becoming a Learning Partner, please visit our Volunteer page .
More information
Contact us
For more information on this program please contact our East Melbourne office:
T: 03 9287 5555
E: CatholicCare@ccam.org.au
Other services
You might also be interested in some of the following services offered at CatholicCare: