Football to help boost school attendance for Indigenous youth

Published Tuesday, 20 October, 2015 at 04:45 PM

Minister for Education and Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Kate Jones

A new academy for Indigenous youth will use rugby league and Australian rules to help boost school attendance and achievement in the South Burnett region, Education Minister Kate Jones said today.

At today’s official launch of the new Barambah Academy in Cherbourg, Ms Jones said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to improving education outcomes for all students.

“This new academy will kick off learning for Indigenous young people and is one of seven now operating in schools across Education’s Darling Downs South West region,” she said.

“We’re investing $1.3 million a year over five years to provide the academies in our schools.

“Already about 80 members from Cherbourg State School and Murgon State High School are attending the academy.

“The academies work with students, their families and the school to improve attendance and classroom behaviour.”

Ms Jones said the not-for-profit Clontarf Foundation would run the academies for the first time in Queensland.

“The Clontarf Foundation has a proven track record in helping improve outcomes for Indigenous students,” she said.

“We know attendance rates at existing Clontarf Academy schools run at better than 80 per cent and year-to-year retention of students is no less than 90 per cent.

“We have seen the value the program provides for schools and communities and we are looking forward to experiencing that same level of success in Queensland.

The state’s first Clontarf Academies are open in Cherbourg State School and Murgon State High School and at Toowoomba, Warwick, Dalby, Kingaroy and Harristown state high schools.

Ms Jones said up to 500 Queensland students were expected to enrol in the academies in the region.

“These programs will follow the foundation’s successful model of capitalising on Indigenous boys’ love of sport, especially the football codes of rugby league and Australian rules, as incentives,” Ms Jones said.

“Clontarf Academies are not sporting academies in their ethos or their aim. Rather, they link sporting participation to school attendance, discipline and behaviour.”

Cherbourg State School principal Stuart Fuller said incentives such as trips away to see sports games and camping trips encouraged improved attendance and behaviour.

“The students have shown their enthusiasm for before school footy training, with many boys turning up twice a week even in mid-winter to train,” he said.

Ms Jones said the Clontarf Foundation to improve the education, discipline, self-esteem, life skills and employment prospects of young Indigenous men and by doing so, equipped them to participate more meaningfully in society.

She said the academies starting in Queensland would be formed in partnership with the schools, communities and families, based on a proven model.

“Each academy focuses on encouraging behavioural change, developing positive attitudes and helping students complete school and secure employment.”

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