Returned boarders become educational role models in their Central Australian community

BOARDING school students, forced to return to Central Australia while their interstate school was closed due to the coronavirus crisis have become role models among other children within their community.

Ishmael Windy returned to Areyonga School when his boarding school closed due to the virus. Picture: Supplied

BOARDING school students, forced to return to Central Australia while their interstate school was closed due to the coronavirus crisis have become role models among other children within their community.

Eleven boarders from Unity College in South Australia returned to Areyonga School when the nation’s boarding schools were forced to close.

Areyonga School teaching principal Jonathon Fernando said the boarders in Years 7 to 11 had showed resilience in continuing their studies while back on country and their commitment was setting an example to other students.

“Getting these boarding school students into school is vital because it would be quite easy for them to stay at home with friends and family their age and other less engaged kids are seeing them making the effort,” he said.

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“When they’ve finished their own work these students are invited into the classrooms to see how their younger siblings and relatives work and sit down and support them in class.

“Our teachers encourage them to come in because it’s an extra support in the classroom and they really are positive role models.”

The students attend in small, staggered groups to access Unity College teachers and materials online, and complete tasks with support from staff and support workers at Areyonga School.

Mr Fernando said having 11 boarders in a small school with about 35 enrolled students was a challenge, but one the school and wider Areyonga community embraced.

“Regardless of our level of capacity it was a no-brainer to take these kids in and support them,” he said.

“The main thing is we want to make sure that when it’s safe these students can return back to school with a smooth transition.”

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The Department of Education is supporting more than 1000 boarding school students who have returned to 92 Northern Territory communities due to the coronavirus pandemic.