About Ardoch
One in three children in Australia’s most disadvantaged communities start school developmentally vulnerable and they continue to fall behind as they progress through school. Ardoch seeks to change this.
Ardoch is a children’s education charity focused on improving educational outcomes for children and young people in disadvantaged communities. Our 2027 purpose is to support children and young people from disadvantaged communities to engage in learning and believe in a future of possibilities.
Our vision is that every child’s potential is realised through full participation in education. This belief inspires us to increase engagement in education, build aspirations and enhance learning outcomes of children in disadvantaged communities. We mobilise community and workplace volunteers to support schools and early childhood services.
Our values
Empowerment: We recognise people’s strengths and uniqueness, amplify their voices, and support them to make their own choices.
Learning: We value the power of education to change lives, and continually learn from research, students, partners, communities and each other.
Impactful: We strive to create the most meaningful change for the students we support.
Community: We connect diverse voices and perspectives and collaborate to respond to the unique needs of schools and their communities.
Accountability: We own our actions and take responsibility for creating a fair, respectful and positive environment.
Strategy 2027
Ardoch supports children and young people from disadvantaged communities to engage in learning and believe in a future of possibilities.
Priority 1. Deepen Ardoch’s impact for more students through meaningful, evidence-based programs.
Priority 2. Give students a voice and greater agency in programs design, delivery and evaluation.
Priority 3. Work closely with schools to contribute to school-led change for improved educational outcomes.
Priority 4. Advocate for improved education policy, practice and investment to address systemic inequity.
Our history
Decades of positive impact and support
Ardoch’s work began in 1988 when Ardoch Founder Kathy Hilton supported one 17-year-old student at Ardoch Windsor Secondary College who was homeless to stay in school and complete her education. This was the start of a journey that has had a positive impact on the educational outcomes of many thousands of children and young people.
Recognising the importance of early intervention in a child’s life, Ardoch’s work now focuses on providing educational support programs to our school and early years partners.
Our key program areas are literacy, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and increasing aspirations by broadening the horizons of children and young people through access to a range of class incursions and excursions.
To find out more about our evidence based programs, please click the button below.