Help to keep Indigenous kids in school when they make the city switch

A new pilot program will help students from some of the country's most remote communities stay in school when their families need travel to city centres.

Suzhanna Bostock-Stuart remembers her first day at school in Adelaide well.

“School was really hectic, confusing, because I wasn’t really used to going to a big school,” she says.

“Lot of corridors, the classrooms that look alike, yeah it was a bit confusing.”

Originally from Alice Springs, she’s one of dozens of students from remote central Australian communities living at Wiltja in Adelaide.

The boarding residence was set up specifically to help Indigenous students from the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara area access education.

It offers a supportive environment, and helps students find pathways for the future.

And South Australain government data suggests the number of school-aged children moving from remote communities to the city for short-term visits, is rising.

Vicki Wilson, manager of Aboriginal services at the South Australian Department for Education and Child Development, says there are a number of reasons many families are on the move.

“Reasons such as some government services that are no longer available, people come down for medical appointments, for health reasons, also come down to visit family,” she says.

The department’s research indicates some children aren't continuing schooling while they're away from home.

“Sometimes, the connections aren’t made as efficiently as we would like,” Ms Wilson says.

Aboriginal education worker Sandra Pumani says those gaps in education are a cause for concern because today's youth will be her community's future leaders.

“I wonder about that and worry about that,” she says.

“It is really important, we have to keep all the kids in school, give them good education for them to take over our communities in the future.”

Walk Along is a new pilot program launched by the South Australian department for schools and child development.

Its aim is to simplify the process of transferring schools temporarily, supporting families by guiding them through the often complicated administrative procedures.

“So that families who are down here in Adelaide, and even families back on community are comfortable about ringing us up and saying, 'look we’re thinking about moving', or 'we’re on our way down', can you support us with getting our children to school” Ms Wilson said.

Community consultation will be part of the process for the 12 month pilot program.

Karina Lester, co-manager of the mobile language team at the University of Adelaide, and a Yankunytjatjara Anangu woman, says the initiative “looks great on paper”, but hopes the support will extend to family members and the social needs of children.

“It is a big picture, and I think the department needs to be mindful of that,” she says.

“It’s about holistics [sic]. It’s about not only the children’s education but it’s about their social and cultural and spiritual well-being, as well.”

• For more information about the Walk Along program call [phone] and speak to Deb or Sandra.