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“ Lack of education is as serious as lack of food.”
Pope Paul VI

Lenten stories

Week 2 — Indigenous Australia

Teneille's story

“After school I get changed and go to Kids Club with my brother. We join with the other kids to practise craft, reading and sports. You can invite new kids to Kids Club, learn healthy ways of living and about the local culture of the Kimberley and its people,” explains Teneille, 9.

Since 2008 Caritas Australia has supported Jalaris Aboriginal Corporation to run the Kids Future Club in Derby, a small coastal town 200km north of Broome. Many of Derby’s Indigenous families have low literacy levels and limited job opportunities, and are affected by poor health and housing — some of the complex issues underlying truancy and poor school performance among the area’s children.

The Caritas-supported program takes a holistic approach to increasing school attendance and raising academic performance for truanting children, including running an afternoon ‘Kids Club’ where Aboriginal children and their parents can become familiar with structured education, health and nutrition in a culturally relevant way.

The Kids Club sees the wellbeing of children as embedded in that of their parents and extended family. As well as providing a safe and supportive play environment, the whole family is encouraged to get involved in the women’s room, drop in centre and mobile health clinic. Elders and parents run music, story telling and painting activities as well as visits to historical sites and bush medicine trips. “I’ve gone on bush hunting, fishing and gathering trips with the elders — I love it!” explains Teneille.

Kids Club provides tucker bags and practical health and nutrition activities with children and families, such as cooking and sports. “I’ve learned to eat lots of fruit and fresh vegetables, cook barbecues and make healthy sandwiches. I know about the juvenile diabetes problem here,” Teneille says. “I’ve learnt how to be creative and active, and to be a leader. I’ll help organise games and activities and if someone gets hurt I’ll take them to the office for first aid.”

Teneille is one of more than 160 children who have attended Kids Club since it opened. Jasmine, (Teneille’s mum and the Education Supervisor) tells us: “Far more kids show up each day than we anticipated – we planned for 15 but have as many as 44 kids here!”

A strong team of Aboriginal child education workers has been built through the program’s focus on developing local capacity in
child development, education and health. Project staff are now able to demonstrate teaching methods that address participation barriers for Aboriginal children at local schools. Through taking on feedback from kids, families and local agencies, the project staff are providing positive experiences of education, health and nutrition — and Derby’s Aboriginal children are getting on track with the education system.

“We have noticed the parents are more aware of play-based learning, and engaging their children in literacy and numeracy activities. Families are more knowledgeable about and supportive of their children’s education and health. There is increased confidence and trust in the value of education and structured learning,” Jasmine reflects. The wider community has also benefited through a reduction in petty crime, increased employment, and improvements in community participation and health.

While she used to resist going to school, Teneille now attends every day — and looks forward to it. “She is more confident about school and is a good role model for the younger kids. She has a lot more confidence, so mixes with other kids more now. Teneille encourages them to join activities, learn how to use paints, to spell or count, or use the computer and she’s more active with sports. She takes pride in being part of Kids Club,” Jasmine explains.

Teneille tells us: “When I finish school I’d like to be in the army to help my people, to support them. I’d like to travel from one end of the earth to another to achieve peace.”

How you can help
Your donation to Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion helps to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, including ensuring primary education for all children, to halve world poverty by 2015.