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It’s Derby Day as local mother helps school attendance

16 September 2015
Children and Schooling
Two Indigenous women standing in front of a palm tree, one wearing a black shirt with Aboriginal design and the other an orange shirt.

In the remote town of Derby in Western Australia parents are helping increase school attendance and changing lives at the same time.

In Derby, like elsewhere in Australia, locals like Karimah Drummond are working hard to ensure children are attending school every day. So, when Karimah met local mother Katherine Riley, she was excited that she had found someone just as passionate about the importance of schooling as she is.

When the Australian Government’s Remote School Attendance Strategy (RSAS) commenced in the remote Western Australian town of Derby last year, local RSAS Program Manager Karimah Drummond set to work on increasing student attendance.

One of Karimah’s tasks is to meet with parents to discuss their child’s attitude to school and when she met with Katherine Riley about her daughter Pippa, Karimah realised that Katherine was just what her team needed to help increase school attendance.  

“We did a home visit to check on Pippa to see why her attendance had dropped. I spoke with Pippa’s mother Katherine and I could sense she was someone really interested about our team and what we were doing,” Karimah said.

“She asked what we did and how we did it, and if she could help. And I told her that there was a position available if she wanted to apply and become part of the team.”

Katherine was the successful applicant, starting work as a School Engagement Officer, and immediately impressed everyone with her enthusiasm for motivating children to go to school every day.

Karimah could also see that enthusiasm rub off on others.    

“Katherine’s story is remarkable because straight away you could see the change in Pippa’s attitude towards school and her attendance has risen since her mother started working with us,” Karimah said.

“The key for the Remote School Attendance Strategy to be doing so well here is because everything is local. We have a really great mix of workers who all live here, and having parents like Katherine on the team ensured the program supported and strengthened families.”

Watch our video on School Attendance in Derby here, or see it on YouTube. 

Find out more

A good education is essential for a good future. Getting children to school, improving education outcomes and supporting families to give their children the best start in life is a major priority for the Australian Government.

The Remote School Attendance Strategy is about working together with schools, families, parents, and community organisations to ensure all children go to school every day.