Explore English – Finalist in the 2020 Victorian International Education Awards

It is with immense pride that we announce Explore English as a 2020 Finalist in the Victorian International Education Awards for Excellence in International Education-English Language Training, presented by Study Melbourne.

This award recognises an English language provider for demonstrating ‘…outstanding achievement in all aspects of an English language program experience to international students.’  Apart from its excellent academic program, it was the difficulties of 2020 that allowed Explore English to fully demonstrate its exceptional Academic Care System.

Explore English is recognised for:

• Providing confidential mental health and well-being support by our dedicated Student Welfare Coordinator.
• Developing cultural awareness and a sense of community through activities that focus on familiarisation experiences. Acquainting students with Melbourne through guided tours of well-known sites, exhibitions, events, and amusement and entertainment venues, such as: Eureka Tower, Melbourne Museum, Immigration Museum, ACMI, Shrine of Remembrance, Indoor Rock climbing and Artvo, etc. These ventures assist students to navigate their way around the city and boost their confidence to explore the city more independently and promote all it has to offer.
• Ongoing practice to motivate and inspire skills for life through the development of relationships with peers, teachers and other adults; leadership skills; critical thinking; problem solving and collaboration within the teaching-learning cycle.
• Investing in students’ career paths by promoting employability in Melbourne through the provision of complementary packaged Barista and RSA courses and Hospitality workshops, for example.

Studies have shown that effective “…pastoral care can assist students to develop positive self-esteem, healthy risk taking, goal setting and negotiation, thus enhancing their strengths and other protective factors contributing to their resiliency as well as developing a sense of social cohesion that together can improve their overall health and wellbeing.” (Nadge, 2005 and Doll & Lyon, 1998). Our nurturing of the whole individual (academically, socially, personally) is achieved through an inclusive and comprehensive system that is intricately embedded into the structural organisation of the school (see Fig. 1).

Sincere thanks to our students for their ongoing support and our staff for their unending dedication and commitment, without whom, this achievement would not have been possible.