$78 MILLION ALLOCATED TO STUDIO SCHOOLS TO ESTABLISH A NEW SCHOOL IN THE PILBARA

Students can go on country to learn more (Source: Wesley College)

A groundbreaking on-country school is set to expand into the Pilbara after a successful ten-year trial of the school Yirramalay in the Kimberley’s.

Studio schools Australia will receive $78 million to create new schools in the top end of Australia following a model of education co-designed with Indigenous people.

The Bunuba community from Leopold Down’s station was the first to collaborate with Melbourne’s Wesley College with studio schools.

This school was called Yirramalay and was partly created due to the poor outcomes in the educational goals of the close the gap campaign.

The new model of secondary education is co-led and co-designed with Indigenous people and non-Indigenous people.

It includes a fully residential model that is 24/7 in supporting the development of living skills, personal confidence, and cultural identity of its students.

Consultant Ned McCord was one of the founders of the program and said it’s different from other schools in that it is taught in the country.

“I’m down here talking to people to see if they’re interested in progressing”.

The organisation is currently scouting for possible locations for schools in the Pilbara region.