A little bit of help can go a long way

For many of our young people, school can be overwhelming, and reaching out for help can be difficult. But NASCA staff are always there to lend a hand, and for Kyeema that has made a world of difference.

“Teachers dont relate to me as much as NASCA does,” says Kyeema.

Kyeema, a proud Bundjalung and Dunghutti woman in year 11 at Alexandria Park Community School in Redfern has been part of the NASCA program since year 7. 

Kyeema credits the program with helping her stay on track with her schooling and says she wouldn’t be where she is today without their support.

“Knowing you can go to NASCA for support and ask them questions about schoolwork, it helps a lot. I know I definitely would not be going as well at school if NASCA weren’t around,” says Kyeema.

Many kids can find themselves struggling at school, but Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids face added barriers to success, and a lot of these barriers are rooted in shame. 

“A lot of kids feel shame to ask their teacher for help. We can be shame to ask questions and can be embarrassed that we’re not understanding the school work and thinking other people know things but we don’t,” says Kyeema.

Understanding where this shame comes from and how to break the cycle is imperative to helping Indigenous young people succeed at school and in life.

“When you’re the only black kid in class you’re not going to put your hand up and draw attention to yourself, you’re not going to ask for help. A lot of our kids feel shame so having that extra support from Indigenous workers like us makes a world of difference,” says NASCA Team Leader Brooklyn Pulevaka. 

“Brooklyn is always checking in on me. Seeing how I’m doing, seeing if I have any assessments coming up, and asking if I need help with anything, it makes me feel very supported and reassured.

“I wouldn’t be comfortable asking my teachers for help the way I ask Brooklyn for help and that’s because of the relationship I have with her. I feel more comfortable talking to her about school issues because we are both Indigenous, and I think that’s the same for a lot of Indigenous kids,” says Kyeema.

While NASCA provides Kyeema with in-class support and help with her assessments, it’s not just the academic support she appreciates, it’s the wrap-around care and self-belief they’ve instilled in her that has made all the difference.

“Kyeema is very intelligent and driven, she has the wisdom, maturity, and drive to do anything she wants to. The world is her oyster,” says Brooklyn.