New providers to deliver girls academy services from 2021
Girls academies services will expand from 2021, with new providers adding around 2,700 additional places for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to be supported with their studies, increase Year 12 attainment and provide pathways to successfully transition into work or further study.
From 2021, the Australian Government is increasing funding for Indigenous girls academies services, adding around 2,700 additional places in new locations across Australia.
The academies engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and young women to support them with their studies, increase Year 12 attainment and provide pathways to successfully transition into work or further study.
In December 2020, the Minister for Indigenous Australians announced up to $36 million over three years which will see more girls academies introduced while maintaining support for 2,900 students in 46 existing locations.
This funding will enable a range of activities designed to help young people thrive at school, including things such as in-class support, group homework sessions, mentoring, extra-curricular and personal development activities, health check-ups, transport to and from school, breakfast clubs, career and employment assistance, cultural activities and special camps or excursions as an incentive to maintain school attendance.
Importantly, all activities are delivered in partnership with the relevant school community and education department and are tailored to the needs of each cohort.
The National Indigenous Australians Agency recently ran an open and competitive grants process and is pleased to announce the successful applicants, the majority of which are Indigenous owned or led organisations, which will deliver services from 2021.
The providers selected to deliver services in the existing sites are:
Stars Foundation
Balga Senior High School
Broome Senior High School
Cecil Andrews College, Seville Grove
Challis Primary School, Armadale
Clontarf Aboriginal College, Waterford
Coodanup College, Mandurah
Esperance Senior High School
Geraldton Senior High School
Girrawheen Senior High School
Kalgoorlie Boulder Community High School
Eastern Goldfields College, Kalgoorlie
Karratha Senior High School
Newton Moore Senior High School, Bunbury
Roebourne District High School
St Brigid’s College, Lesmurdie
Centralian Middle School, Alice Springs
Centralian Senior College, Alice Springs
Palmerston College (Yrs 7-9), Rosebery
Palmerston College (Yrs 10-12), Driver
Taminmin College, Humpty Doo
National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy
Canobolas Rural Technology High School, Orange
Chifley Senior College, Mount Druitt
Coonamble High School
Dubbo College Delroy Campus
Dubbo College Senior Campus
Dubbo College South Campus
Gunnedah High School
Kempsey High School
Melville High School, South Kempsey
Muswellbrook High School
Narromine High School
Singleton High School
Tamworth High School
Glass Jar Australia Limited
Derby District High School
East Kimberley College, Kununurra
Koya Aboriginal Corporation
Kiara College
Swan View Senior High School
Arrangements for existing locations in Queensland will be made by the Queensland Department of Education.
Aldridge State High School, Maryborough
Cherbourg State School
Murgon State High School
Bundaberg State High School
Bundaberg North State High School
Hervey Bay State High School
Kepnock State High School, Bundaberg
Maryborough State High School
Urangan State High School, Hervey Bay
The following providers have been selected to introduce girls academies in new sites over the next three years:
- Stars Foundation
- National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy
- Glass Jar Australia Ltd
- NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Incorporated
- Koya Aboriginal Corporation
- Aurora Project and Programs Pty Ltd
- AFL Cape York House for Girls
- Yalga-Binbi Institute for Community Development Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation
- Wongutha CAPS
- South Metropolitan Youth Link Inc
- Central Queensland University
- Cape York Girl Academy Ltd
The NIAA is funding the salaries of current staff employed by Role Models and Leaders Australia while the transition to new providers occurs and will be working with the new providers to secure employment for existing staff where this is agreeable to both parties.
The NIAA would also like to assure current participants, schools, parents and carers, and their communities that girls academy services will continue in all current sites from Term 1 2021.
The new sites will be determined with the relevant education authorities and school communities over the coming year.