MIMILI ANANGU SCHOOL, SA
SCHOOL:
Mimili Anangu School is a CPC (Child Parent Centre) to Year 12 school in a very remote location on the Pitjantjatjara/Yankunytjatjara Lands 1250km from Adelaide. All of its 65 students are Indigenous.
PROGRAMS:
Kungka Curtain Service. Mimili Anangu School established the Kungka Curtain Service (KCS) at the start of 2007. KCS resulted from a meeting between the principal and senior students in response to poor attendance by secondary school-aged girls. In partnership with the local Lands TAFE the girls were taught to sew, initially to make curtains for the school bus. The school developed an accredited SACE unit around the sewing. The girls made artwork to sew into bags and sold the bags at a conference in Alice Springs. They learned to silkscreen, designed business cards, sold over 1500 bags and raised enough money to totally fund a trip for one week of work experience in Port Augusta. Alongside other gains, attendance among senior girls has improved.
Anangu Staff Training and Development. The Anangu Teacher Education Program (AnTEP) is a priority for the school. AnTEP students have been included in Accelerated Literacy training and development. A Tertiary Tutor also works with Anangu staff to develop programs that foster and encourage Anangu involvement in embedding culture within the curriculum, such as through Elders teaching traditional crafts and skills in an elective program.
OUTCOMES:
Attendance 2002-07
2002 68.9%
2003 77.3%
2004 75.4%
2005 82.3%
2006 75.9%
2007 85.0%
Retention
Mimili Anangu School has the highest retention rate for secondary schools of any Aboriginal school in South Australia.
COMMUNITY COMMENT:
"I have worked at school for 31 years. I think that last year the secondary girls did a very good job working at the Kungka Curtain Service and going to Port Augusta to work. I think this is the first time this has happened in Mimili and in all the schools here. I am proud of the girls. They looked good dressed up to go to work. They had a meeting and told community what they had been learning and what they were going to do." - Ngupulya Pumani, Anangu Coordinator
MORE INFORMATION:
Christine Bell, Principal 08 8956 2999 or christine.bell@mimili.sa.edu.au
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