Single parent reaches out to other students

USQ Springfield Director Doug Fraser pledges $5000 to the F.I.S.H program, founded by psychology student Danielle Serrano

Give a man a fish and you’ll feed him for a day, teach him how to fish and you’ll feed him forever.

Inspired by this age old parable, University of Southern Queensland (USQ) student Danielle Serrano decided to reach out and help single parents in the Ipswich region meet their study goals.

A single mother herself, Ms Serrano has struggled through five years of study to reach her final year of the Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and wants to help other parents in her situation.

'Being a single mother, you have to wear so many hats - mother, employee, student, friend, daughter, you name it,' Ms Serrano said.

'I have completed TAFE diplomas and nearly my university degree, but have faced many struggles as a single parent. In the past I have had to defer my studies and complete them part-time.

'A result of nearly finishing my degree has been that I have started to think about what help could have been really useful while I was studying.

'I just wish there was some help out there for single parents. Really practical help that could give them the lift they need to get over the line. Maybe someone sponsoring them for $50 a week towards their rent or paying for textbooks, just something really practical.'

After discussing this with the head of her local church, Pastor Phil Cutcliffe from Springfield Christian Family, Ms Serrano put her plans into action and created the Funding Initiatives Supporting Households program (F.I.S.H), under the umbrella of Westside Community Care.

The program aims to team up with business, government, church, community groups and community minded people to reach out to single parents who are experiencing financial hardship while studying higher education.

'We are starting out with small steps. To start with the program will help provide practical support to single parents who are Centrelink recipients, already enrolled in higher education through either Bremer TAFE at Springfield or USQ Springfield campus.

'USQ Springfield campus has pledged $5000, Bremer TAFE $1000 and Ipswich Councillor David Morrison $500 to get us going.

'There are many single parents in our local area who are doing it tough, trying to support their children on a shoe-string budget.

'Through this program I hope to lighten the financial burden of single parent students, thus encouraging them to continue with their studies in the hope of a better life for themselves and their children,' she said.

'We are trialling this new program locally for a three year period and are looking for corporate sponsors and community minded individuals to commit to reoccurring pledges for the trial period.

'All contributions made to applicants via the F.I.S.H program will directly go towards the recipient’s cost of living as decided during the application process and are tax deductable.

'Our goal for this year is to provide practical support to five single parents in their studies by the end of the year, so I am hoping to raise another $8,500 in the next month.'

If you would like more information on how to offer financial support to the F.I.S.H program, contact Joshua Holopainen at Westside Community Care on 3818 2915, 0421 865 875 or Joshua_h_8@hotmail.com . See also www.westsidecommunitycare.org.au

Contact Details:
Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0438 309 096