Land grant announced for student hostel in Kununurra

15/12/98

Efforts towards establishing a student hostel in Kununurra have taken a significant step forward today with the State Government announcing a land grant for the project.

In Kununurra today, Education Minister Colin Barnett said a four-hectare site on Victoria Highway, approximately three kilometres from Kununurra District High School, had been identified and granted to Aboriginal Hostels Limited to build a student hostel.

Mr Barnett said the Kimberley education district had been identified as a priority area in the State for the establishment of a student hostel and that remote Aboriginal families in the area in particular had showed significant support for the project.

While the hostel remained subject to the timing of native title and heritage clearances, as well as local government planning and project development approvals, it was hoped it would be up and running for the 2000 school year.

"The student hostel is a significant step in helping to improve educational opportunities for students who live in remote locations in the Kimberley region, particularly Aboriginal families who have expressed strong support for the hostel facility," Mr Barnett said.

"Success in educating Aboriginal students depends a lot on regular attendance at school and good before-and-after school care and supervision.

"This hostel, while not solely limited to Aboriginal children, will provide a solid and stable living and learning environment for students and I am very pleased that it has been met with such strong support."

Mr Barnett said the hostel was expected to cost more than $3 million and provide quality accommodation for 40 students.

Development of the project had involved the Wunan ATSIC Regional Council, Kimberley Group Training, the Kununurra Hostel Committee, Aboriginal Hostels Limited, the Country High School Hostels Authority and the Wyndham-East Kimberley Shire.

The Minister said a survey of families in the region showed that access to secondary school and a safe and supportive environment was important to achieving high education standards. While the survey showed most demand for a hostel from Aboriginal families, it would not be exclusively for students from Aboriginal families.

"Since 1996, the State Government has indicated a willingness to develop hostels because of the opportunities they offer for students and families in remote locations," Mr Barnett said.

"This hostel, the first of its type in Western Australia, will bring significant benefits to Aboriginal students and the wider community, not only in educational terms, but in social, community and career terms as well.

"Also, as Kununurra District High School grows to encompass the senior high school years and a range of additional education programs, a State-funded residential facility under the Country High Schools Hostels Authority could also be considered for the area."

Media contact: Justine Whittome, (08) 9222 9699