The Impact of Cottage by the Sea: From Ripples to Waves
Funding
The Ripple Effect of Cottage by the Sea. | Funder: Cottage by the Sea, Queenscliff Inc
History
Pagination
1-72
Open access
Yes
ISBN-13
9780730004202
Language
eng
Research statement
Background
Since it was founded in 1890, Cottage by the Sea has provided support to thousands of Victorian children experiencing disadvantage. Its longevity is a testament to the impact of the dedicated staff, community support, and the high-quality, life-changing programs it provides to children. This new project focused on evidencing the medium- to long-term impacts of Cottage by the Sea programs from the perspective of the alumni and parents of children and young people who attended Take a Break, REEF and Mentor programs spanning the years 1939 to 2023.
Contribution
Views were also sought from an ex-principal, an ex-board member, a director of a charitable foundation, teachers and leaders from schools who had attended the Take a Break program for many years as well as students, teachers and school leaders who had recently participated in the Take a Break program for the first time.
The researchers asked two key questions:
1. What are the medium- to long-term impacts of Cottage by the Sea programs on children, young people, families, schools, and communities?
2. In what ways does participation in Cottage by the Sea programs enhance the lives of children and young people who attend?
Significance
The findings from this research provide compelling evidence of the medium- to long-term impact of Cottage by the Sea on the lives of the children and young people who attend. Those who attended Cottage by the Sea between 1939 and 2010, described how their experiences at the Cottage changed their lives and led them to pathways they could never have imagined.