Giving young mothers a chance

Words Tricia Welsh

Although Vicki Maynard’s three grandchildren are now grown up, her grandmotherly wiles and love come to the fore each Tuesday when she volunteers in a creche looking after babies while their mothers attend ‘school’ next door.

Vicki is one of a small team of volunteers at Burnside High School’s STEMM program -- Supporting Teenagers with Education, Mothering and Mentoring. The first of its kind in Queensland, this unique stand-alone curriculum offers pregnant girls and young mothers the opportunity to further their education while their babies are being looked after – all on the same premises.

The innovative holistic concept is the brainchild of high school teacher Jackie Dean who, since its inception in 2007, has seen many hundreds of young women achieve their educational goals while still caring for their babies.

Vicki finds the experience most enjoyable as well as rewarding and has been doing it for eight years. In 2019, she received a Nicklin Community Award for her efforts. “I find it an incredible experience when the mothers put the time in to improving themselves and finally graduate,” she says. “I get great pleasure in doing something so these mothers can continue an education.”

With anywhere from four to nine babies at a time, the creche is often a hive of quiet action, especially among the toddlers who not only need love and attention but entertainment through activities and passive games.

The student mothers are aged from 13 to 24 years and come from all over the coast – as far away as Beerwah and Tewantin. Depending on their age, they might attend STEMM classes for two or up to four years if they are younger.

Some of the young mothers go on to become nurses, teachers, beauty therapists, hairdressers, and social workers. One ‘graduate’ from 2009 went on to become a teacher and is doing her masters in trauma while working in the acute mental health ward in Darwin Hospital assisting with the education of long-stay patients. The mother of four children, her eldest is now in Year 12 – and will be the first in her family to complete high school. While there is not a lot of interaction with the mothers, Vicki says it is still rewarding to see the changes in them through education. “We’re just a small group of volunteers but STEMM is always looking for back-up support. It’s a win-win experience – so rewarding on both sides,” she adds.

As STEMM’s motto says: By educating a mother, you educate a family.

STEMM has been inducted to the DFV Prevention Honour Roll in recognition of the organisation’s action to prevent domestic and family violence, raise awareness and support people impacted by domestic and family violence in Queensland.