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New providers to deliver girls academy services from 2021

Children and Schooling
Girls academies 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.