ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

The Australian Government acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the Elders past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

Indigenous.gov.au Connecting With First Nations Australians
Back to Stories

Top marks for getting kids to school

28 November 2014
Community Santa Teresa (Ltyentye Apurte)
Children and Schooling
Santa Teresa community members and School Attendance Officers

Before the Remote School Attendance Strategy (RSAS) started in Ltyentye Apurte, it seemed like more children were hanging around the shop than going to school. But eleven months on, things have changed considerably thanks to eight dedicated school attendance officers.

Before school attendance officers in Santa Teresa started their duties helping kids get to school, it seemed like more children were hanging around the shop than going to school.

But eleven months on, things have changed considerably with Santa Teresa’s Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School in central Australia.

Attendance in this remote community near Alice Springs was poor but following the introduction of the Australian Government’s Remote School Attendance Strategy (RSAS), there have been improvements.

Run by CatholicCare NT The School Attendance Officers, beginning at 7:00am each day, help families get their children to school and make sure they stay all day.

Raymond Palmer, the programme supervisor, said that at first both parents and children would question what they were doing.

“It’s important that we help kids get to school,” Raymond said.

“They are our future, they need to learn, be educated, and get a real job.”

School Attendance Officer and local community member Mary Malladad found that after encouragement, parents began to listen, which helped their children.

“The kids are happier now,” Mary said.

“We love our job and the variety it offers from helping to supervise during recess and lunch, and lending a hand in the classroom. Plus, we offer a lot of support to families and help them sort out any issues getting children to school,” Mary said.

New recruit Roberta Cavanagh explains how sometimes parents say that their children are sick.

“If a child is sick we ask the parents to take them to the clinic to be checked out and get a sick certificate for school. We are really pushing hard on this,” Roberta said.

The School Attendance Officers will continue to challenge any excuse for not sending children to school and aim to beat their own attendance record, working towards 100 percent attendance in the region, providing local kids with a good education.

Find out more

A good education is essential for a good future and that starts with making sure children and young people go to school every day.

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. More information about the strategy can be found at Remote School Attendance Strategy.

CatholicCare NT is a not-for-profit organisation which provides many different services across the Northern Territory including administering the RSAS.