Pine Creek school has won literacy resources to increase the engagement of Indigenous students and families in literacy.
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The resources are the result of a grant from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.
The foundation has awarded 35 community groups more than $255,000 in grants to fund initiatives that help to break down education barriers for children and youth across rural, regional and remote Australia.
This is the seventh round of FRRR’s REAPing Rewards program and demand continues to highlight the need for support to enhance educational opportunities for these students.
Natalie Egleton, FRRR’s CEO, said that it’s fantastic to see such a wide range of project requests coming from local communities.
“FRRR firmly believes that the prosperity and vitality of rural, regional and remote communities is inextricably linked to the quality of the education available to people living in those regions.
“This program is all about helping local community leaders provide access to educational resources and opportunities that are readily available to metropolitan students. It was great to see a wide variety of applications, including for cultural and arts, environmental sustainability, resilience and leadership, nature-based learning, and science, engineering, robotics (STEM) programs.
“These grants will definitely make a tangible difference to rural children, and particularly to those starting their education,” Ms Egleton said.
Nearly a third of the projects support early learning or kindergarten programs. Ms Egleton explains that school readiness is a key indicator of future success in rural and remote settings.
“Recent research shows that early childhood education has positive impacts on all children but in rural areas, early years’ education takes place in the community, and it’s often hard to funraise locally for the support needed. So we are delighted to be able to support these projects.”
The projects funded in this round include:
- bi-lingual literacy resources to increase the engagement of Indigenous students and families in literacy, at Pine Creek School in the Northern Territory;
- training for teachers in remote NSW to build their confidence and support student engagement in learning science and technology, via the University of Newcastle;
- providing learning opportunities through the water and rock self-confidence program for 25 students in The District Council of Karoonda East Murray, in South Australia;
- robotics equipment and expert tuition, to help the Moura (QLD) State Primary School Robotics Team participate in CQ University Junior Robotics Competition;
- commercial oven to establish a school bakery at Fairbridge School, in WA, to produce and sell loaves of bread to staff and resource the onsite breakfast and lunch club while enhancing learning in STEM, work skills, life skills and nutrition.
- an enhanced careers guidance program for students at St Brendan-Shaw Catholic College, Tasmania to improve career aspirations for their isolated and disadvantaged students;
- a community led, school holiday program of educational workshops in Port Fairy, Victoria to develop students’ creativity, lateral thinking and passion for learning.
The complete list of education projects funded is available on FRRR’s website. These grants were possible thanks to Third Link Investment Managers, Thornton Foundation, Helping Hands, Blackwood Foundation, VISE, Marrich Equity Funds, two Private Donors and several individual donations.
Chris McLennan
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
ACM national rural property writer based in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. Career journalist. Multi award winner.
