We’re thrilled to see some of the results coming out from the Perfect Presence program, a NSW Department of Education initiative that’s making meaningful progress in helping young people stay connected to school and learning.
What is Perfect Presence?
Perfect Presence is an innovative program launched by the NSW Department of Education that’s changing how support is offered to young people in school. The program was created in response to declining attendance rates in secondary schools, but it goes deeper than just getting students through the gates.
The program takes an early intervention approach, working with students who might be finding it tough to stay engaged with school. Rather than waiting for attendance to drop further, Perfect Presence steps in early to help students rebuild their connection to education and learning.
What makes it different? Schools and youth mental health charities like Top Blokes work together to design programs that actually make sense for their students. It’s not about forcing everyone into the same box – it’s about creating support that works for each school community.
Being selected as a partner of Perfect Presence isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s recognition of what Top Blokes believes in and lives by: local connections matter. Our grassroots approach and deep community ties mean we get what’s happening on the ground. We’ve been walking alongside young males in our communities for almost 20 years, and we understand that every bloke’s journey is different.
How Top Blokes deliver Perfect Presence
We’re proud to be chosen as a Perfect Presence provider, and the numbers show why this matters. Since the inception of the program back in 2023, we’ve now worked alongside 594 young blokes across 20 schools, running 38 Top Blokes programs. Here’s how we make it work:
- We partner with schools to understand what their students really need.
- Our youth workers build genuine connections with the young males they mentor.
- We create a safe space where young blokes can be themselves.
- We use engaging activities that make students want to show up and participate.
Dan Allars, NSW State Manager at Top Blokes said, “What gets us excited is seeing the positive changes in our young blokes. Through Perfect Presence, we’re seeing stronger connections with school, better ways to express emotions, improved relationships with teachers and mates and more confidence in setting goals to achieve.”
Top Blokes Youth Worker, Keely has seen firsthand the impact of goal setting with the young people she works with. “We had one young guy really struggle with the idea of goal setting. He decided to set himself a goal ‘to get a job’. Now he’s landing himself job interviews and furthering his belief in himself to set more goals in the future.”
Looking ahead
With nearly 600 young males supported so far, we’re seeing firsthand how Perfect Presence is making a difference. But we’re just getting started. We believe every young bloke deserves the chance to thrive at school and in life.
“Partnering with the NSW Department of Education through Perfect Presence has been a game-changer for us. This partnership has allowed us to expand our support to local communities in Western Sydney, the South Coast, and Port Stephens. This collaboration has allowed us to do what we do best – mentoring young males to lead healthy and safe lives – but on a much larger scale. Through Perfect Presence, we’re proving that when local expertise meets state-wide support, real change happens,” added Dan.
Want to know more about how Top Blokes and Perfect Presence could support your school community? Reach out to Dan Allars, NSW State Manager for more.
