Thriving against the odds

Opportunities can be hard to come by in the remote community of Haasts Bluff (Ikuntji) three-and-a-half hours west of Alice Springs.

Haast’s Bluff boasts a population of around 200 people. The community is serviced by its one-and-only school, catering to students from pre-school through to year six with around 30 children enrolled at any one time.

One of those children is Maxi. At eleven years old Maxi already knows what she wants to do when she grows up.

“When I grow up I want to work in NASCA.” she says.

Since 2015 NASCA has visited Haasts Bluff three times a year providing in-class support, sports, health, mentoring, and personal development activities. These week-long intensive programs are aimed at increasing the school attendance, performance, and attainment rates of students like Maxi.

“When NASCA come to my school everyone come to school,” says Maxi.

School attendance rates for remote Northern Territory communities are significantly lower than the national average, with attendance rates for schools like Haasts Bluff’s – considered “very remote” – sitting at just 50%.

“That’s why these kinds of programs are so important. They provide different opportunities and experiences that encourage these kids to come to school, and explore what they’re interested in whether it’s maths, science, English, or sports. They then take this knowledge into their further education,” says NASCA Team Leader Brooklyn Pulevaka.

“NASCA provides a wonderful, practical program that suits the learning needs of the children, they’re also great role models,” says Geoff Gillman, Haasts Bluff’s school Principal.

For Maxi, it has been the NASCA programs that have encouraged and equipped her to be able to attend high school in Melbourne next year.

“I’m nervous to go to big school to make friends, but excited too,” says Maxi.