Pathways 2 Participation

Addressing absenteeism has become a priority for Australian schools, with attendance rates declining since national reporting began, impacting student academic outcomes and wellbeing.

Pathways 2 Participation (P2P) is an evidence-based program co-developed by the University of Melbourne and Deakin University to help schools respond proactively to student avoidance and non-attendance.

The model provides a data-driven preventative approach combining targeted supports with intensive interventions, bringing together teachers, mental health professionals and families. A pilot across 16 schools in partnership with the Victorian Department of Education found that 82 per cent of staff reported that students benefited from the program.

Co-Founders Associate Professor Lisa McKay-Brown and Professor Glenn Melvin are now further validating P2P through controlled trials with the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia, the Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools, and the Department for Children and Young People (Tasmania) ahead of plans to scale nationally.