ABSTUDY and Travel
Arranging travel to and from home for ABSTUDY students? You will find the latest information about safe travel plans, how to pre-book travel and claim a reimbursement.
Arranging travel to and from home for ABSTUDY students? You will find the latest information about safe travel plans, how to pre-book travel and claim a reimbursement.
Multiple resources to help students and families at various stages of their study or training can be found on one web page at Services Australia.
Booklets, Fact Sheets and even Videos translated into 5 different Indigenous languages can be accessed via the link below.
Richard talks about his work with the QLD Dept of Education Transition Support Service, which works to support the engagement of young people from remote Indigenous communities with their boarding schools and residential facilities. There is a focus on preparing young people to make the transition to boarding and to stay at school.
Madalah is the largest Indigenous scholarship provider in WA, supporting over 400 Indigenous students in 23 partner schools. The team talk about their work in supporting and advocating for their students and helping bridge the gap between the families, remote communities and the schools.
Amelia talks about Many Tracks, a Cairns-based organisation supporting schools to develop culturally responsive education experiences, build resilience and promote the holistic wellbeing of remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. It focuses on creating safe and supportive environments for students who transition from remote communities into boarding schools.
Troy Hayter and Donna Shillingford discuss the Catholic Education WA Transition Service Unit, which supports community schools and boarding schools across WA. The Unit supports students and families from remote communities transitioning into boarding, as well as assisting with post-school pathways.
Cecily and Tamika are Boarding School Education Officers in the Youth team at the NPY Women’s Council in Alice Springs. They talk about their work with young Indigenous students from communities, the support they provide and the Rec shed engagement activities that build relationships.
Renee provides information about the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation, their boarding scholarship program for Indigenous students and the Pathways program which provides career support for Indigenous students.
Darryl, an Indigenous student from Ceduna in SA, has been a boarder at Immanuel College in Adelaide for 4 years. He shares his boarding experience and his advice for new Indigenous boarders. The Principal and the Director of Boarding talk about the school’s Orientation program and their commitment to the students.
Student Retention (or lack of student retention) is probably the biggest issue faced by schools and residences that catering Indigenous students. It seems to be an issue faced by all schools and residences although some organizations have better retention than others. This informal paper poses some strategies to build retention.