“Develop a girl – change a community.”
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It’s the motto of Girls Academy, an initiative designed to support and empower female Indigenous students, which was officially launched at Oxley High School on Tuesday.
The Oxley program has been running since February and program manager Janine May said there were high expectations for the 50 students involved.
“I have no doubt we will see doctors, lawyers and high-achieving girls come out of our academy,” Ms May said.
“We set the bar high, and every day the girls make me so proud when they step up to these challenges.”
Oxley High principal Simon Bartlett-Taylor said the Girls Academy would empower students to become the “community leaders of tomorrow”.
NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister Sarah Mitchell, who officially launched the academy, said she would love to see a student in the Oxley academy take on her job.
“It would be wonderful if one of you was the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, or the Premier or the Prime Minister,” she said.
“It can happen. Whatever you set your mind to, whatever you want to achieve, we know that you can do it and all of us are here to back you in your future successes.”
The program was made possible by a $24m funding package from the federal government, which Deputy Prime Minister and New England MP Barnaby Joyce announced at Oxley High last June.
“This academy provides local girls with positive role models to aspire to, which encourages them to complete their education and go onto higher skilled employment or further study,” Mr Joyce said.
“It is important that girls, as well as boys, get the best education they can, especially in rural areas, so that they can enjoy a better life while also contributing to the economy.”
Girls Academy founder Ricky Grace said the not-for-profit charity aimed to have 800 girls from NSW in the program by the end of 2017.
“As future leaders and mothers, skilled and educated young women are essential to closing the unacceptable gap that exists between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and all Australians,” Mr Grace said.