19/11/02
Aboriginal students at Kwinana Senior High School will have a better chance to make the most of their education, following the launch of a pilot program today by Education Minister Alan Carpenter.
Mr Carpenter said the Great Mates Indigenous Schools Mentoring Program, sponsored by the Alcoa Foundation, was designed to enable Aboriginal students to maximise their leadership potential through a mentoring system.
"It is important for Aboriginal youth to come into contact with role models who can inspire and encourage them to achieve their best," he said.
"That's what this program is all about."
Great Mates will target Aboriginal students at Kwinana Senior High School who show leadership qualities, and it will provide those students with a mentor to help them reach their leadership potential.
"In turn, these student leaders will then use their leadership skills to mentor and foster the skills of local primary school-aged Aboriginal students," the Minister said.
"This is a great opportunity for young people to not only become leaders, but to help others develop the same talents and meet their full potential."
Mr Carpenter said Great Mates would put young people in touch with role models, such as former Wildcats basketballer James Crawford, who could use their experience to guide young people in developing leadership skills.
"Great Mates is a relationship-based, one-to-one mentoring strategy designed to build self-worth, confidence and the capacity to achieve potential through education," he said.
The Minister said Aboriginal education was a key priority in the State Government's educational strategy. He said the Government was committed to providing Aboriginal students with the best possible educational opportunities.
Mr Carpenter highlighted recent research which showed that the number of Aboriginal students staying on to complete 12 years of schooling had reached 25.1 per cent - its highest level in at least 15 years. (Refer media statement: "Gallop Government committed to enhancing Aboriginal education" dated November 8).
"While this year's result shows an encouraging trend in Aboriginal education, it is still far too low compared with the retention rate of almost 71 per cent for non-Aboriginal students," the Minister said.
"Programs such as Great Mates are a step in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go."
Mr Carpenter said Great Mates complemented numerous State Government initiatives that had been designed to attract and retain Aboriginal students in Government schools.
Some of the Gallop Government initiatives include:
- the creation of 10 new Aboriginal Education Manager positions;
- cultural awareness training for teachers; and
- a project which combines sport and Nyungah identity as a means to increase participation and educational outcomes for Aboriginal students.
"Importantly, the State Government initiatives and programs like
Great Mates involve collaboration and input from local communities," the Minister said.
"It is vital that we foster good communication between students, family, school and mentor throughout the relationship-building process, in order for these programs to succeed.
"Through improving participation in study and schooling, students stand a much better chance of going on to further education and employment."
Mr Carpenter congratulated the Alcoa Foundation for its support of
Great Mates and wished the program and its participants every success.
Minister's office: 9213 6800
