Kuranda District State College wins another award

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford has congratulated Kuranda District State College on winning another excellence award for its Families as First Teachers program.

“The school has just been named the winner of the National Award for Quality Schooling for Excellence in Family School Partnerships,” Mr Welford said.

“This follows the school last year winning the 2007 Network Ten Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early Phase of Learning for this same program.

“The Families as First Teachers program is about helping Indigenous families support their pre-school aged children’s early literacy and numeracy development and preparing them for school.”

Kuranda District State College has a high enrolment percentage of Indigenous students from nearby communities who have English as their second language.

“School is a daunting prospect for many of these children but this program has made a big difference with Indigenous students now arriving to start their compulsory years’ schooling, ready to learn,” Mr Welford said.

“Consultation with the community in 2005 revealed that the community wanted to understand school better so the program was established to take school culture into the familiar surroundings of the five Indigenous communities. This gives them an understanding of the role the family plays in ensuring their children’s success.”

Member for Barron River, Steve Wettenhall, also congratulated the local school and said he had seen firsthand the success of the program.

“It breaks down the barriers that have made Indigenous families reluctant to visit schools and has encouraged them to value good early childhood education,” Mr Wettenhall said.

“The program has been enormously popular with parents attending workshops to learn to make alphabet and number charts, puppets and playdough and play games to help their children’s learning.

“It is run by Kathryn Mannion, who has extensive experience in Indigenous schools in the Northern Territory, the Kimberley and northern Queensland, with teachers, teacher aides and Indigenous education support officers.

“Parents are running their own playgroups for their children and for the first time parents are becoming confident enough to come to the school unprompted to discuss their children’s progress.

“The awards are not only a valuable validation of the school’s program but the Indigenous community is also getting recognition for the work they are doing for their children.”

Media contact: Marnie Stitz or Emma Clarey on 3237 1000