Telstra Foundation gets kids to school at Aurukun
A $325,000 program, funded by Telstra’s philanthropic arm, the Telstra Foundation, has increased school attendance by 166 per cent at Aurukun Primary School in Far North Queensland.
The successful program re-established a regular school routine for children during the second school term and introduced new programs, such as digital media skills, to make learning fun and interactive for students.
Telstra Foundation Director and Telstra Country Wide Group Managing Director, Geoff Booth, said the program delivered astonishing results in just one term.
“The Croc Festival Aurukun project turned around a school struggling with student absenteeism and learning apathy into vibrant environment where students wanted to come to school,” Mr Booth said.
“School absenteeism at Aurukun Primary School had been the highest of all schools in the surrounding community. After the project’s implementation, school attendance increased from 75 students in term one to over 200 students attending school regularly in term two.
“The teachers, students and parents have done a fantastic job in changing the culture at Aurukun Primary School and creating a great environment to learn.”
- Further information on the Croc Festival at Thursday Island can be found at:
Croc Festival (www.crocfestival.org.au).
About the Telstra Foundation
The Telstra Foundation runs a number of giving programs that focus on enriching the lives of Australian children and young people and the communities in which they live. The Telstra Foundation has two main programs - the Telstra Foundation Community Development Fund and the Telstra's Kids Fund.
You can find out more about the Telstra Foundation by visiting the website:
The Telstra Foundation (www.telstrafoundation.com.au)