Impact – Hands on Learning

Independent analysis

In 2021, with the support of the PMF Foundation, we engaged dandolo partners to articulate the program’s evidence of impact to assist with development and growth of the program.

Wellbeing and engagement

Hands on Learning provides an enabling space to build confidence and the support to stay connected and engage at school by finding a sense of meaning and purpose in the tasks undertaken.

Social and emotional learning

Hands on Learning supports students to develop the social and emotional capabilities essential to understanding themselves and others, and managing their relationships, lives, and learning more effectively. This Review conducted by the Monash University Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice demonstrates the link between HoL and SEL.

Hands on Learning program impact data demonstrates this in practice.

Positive pathways

Ultimately Hands on Learning provides students with the conditions to flourish and an opportunity to succeed. 95 % of Hands on Learning students: finish school, get an apprenticeship, or get a job.

Socio economic return

Hands on Learning has been found to offer incredible returns on investment. In 2012 Deloitte Access Economics found HoL demonstrated that it is a successful and sustainable method for reengaging students with schooling reporting a $12 return to every $1 of investment. In 2021, as part of dandolo partners independent analysis, HoL was found to break even on investment when 1.1% of the entire secondary student cohort that year were prevented from early school leaving.

Global recognition

Hands on Learning has been included in the Top 100 Global Collection by Finnish education non-profit HundrED as an inspiring education program that is innovative, impactful, and scalable.

Focused research

Read case studies, research and policy papers from The University of Melbourne, dandolo partners, Deloitte Access Economics, Victoria University, the Australian Research Council, the Victorian Education Department and more.

Student voices

‘’HoL is a place to be, you feel like home, a place to belong, and a place to belong to.”

“It’s better than me getting distracted or distracting others in class. I’m more focused down here. We are always working together. Someone’s measuring, cutting, drilling, bringing the materials over, we are always a team.” “I love it”.

“HoL encourages me to try my best. I feel like I can share my ideas a lot more and I love coming to school on Thursdays to come to HoL. It is the light of school.”

Hear from our partner schools

“Through their participation in HoL they get to experience a sense of completion. They have learnt how to collaborate. Completion, satisfaction, achievement, contribution to community. All life skills to learn how to work and complete things.”

“Often you have students in class who you know have potential, but they don’t have the confidence to speak out and get involved. In the small group of HoL they feel more comfortable to have a go and that transfers back into class.”

“Increased confidence to lead small group projects. Increased confidence to take risks and apply trial and error when solving problems. Improved mathematic outcomes in particular the ability to transfer learnt skills to solve real life hands on problems .”

Parents have their say

‘’Getting the chance to learn hands on, doing something positive, looking back at a job you have done, it is so good for a child’s self-esteem. HoL helps with mental health, self-esteem and learning to socialise and work as a team.’’

“It’s been great for his confidence. He used to struggle at school with maths, but they do so much measurement in HoL he didn’t think about it as maths and his skills and confidence grew. He’s now got the confidence to try more things.”

“Improves life skills, gains confidence and makes my son feel very important. HoL has become very important to my sons love of school. He is much happier and doesn’t want to miss school.”