Gudamulli Families, 

It’s good to be back working with the students. For those that don’t know me, my name is Jodie Martin and I am the CEC here at North Rockhampton State High School. I am a proud Karingbal, Goreng Goreng & South Sea Islander women, born and raised on Darumbal country. I have been in this position since 2019, however, I was on leave last year and have missed meeting all the new students and parents.

Our school currently has just over 300 Indigenous students, which makes up about 32% of the whole school. These numbers have increased largely within the last couple of years. For comparison, when I first began in this position in 2019, we had about 150 Indigenous students.

Percentages of Indigenous students, in each year level:

Year 7                    42.43%

Year 8                    37.85%

Year 9                    29.74%

Year 10                 29.16%

Year 11                 26.37%

Year 12                 24.48%

At the moment and for the rest of term, I am only here from 8am-12.30pm. The school is working towards extra staff to assist; however, it is just me for the time being. 

PROGRAMS

ARTIE Academy

The ARTIE Academy assists to Close the Gap in educational outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. It provides opportunity to participate in programs that encourage improvements in school attendance, behaviour, academic achievement, effort and ultimately Year 12 attainment or its equivalent. The ARTIE Academy is an initiative of the Queensland Former Origin Greats (FOGS) and funded by the Australian Government and Queensland Government.

Our CQ ARTIE co-ordinator is Gabby, who is based in our school every Monday, should anyone like to speak directly to her for any of the following.

                Attendance Challenge

Every Indigenous student is eligible to be a part of this program. Students must meet the 90% attendance rate each term to receive the term prize.

                Driver’s License Program

Only 16-year-old students who have had 90% attendance in the SEMESTER before turning 16, will be invited to be a part of this great program. NOT ALL STUDENTS ARE ON THIS PROGRAM, only eligible students. Eligibility includes:

• 90% attendance
• No suspensions
• Good effort and engagement
• Satisfactory in Maths and English

If you are turning 16 in semester 2 (July-Dec) you are on your DLP Semester challenge now! 

If you miss out, or enrol after your semester challenge, don’t worry! Each new semester in grade 10 and 11 is a new opportunity to make yourself eligible. 

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE DRIVING LICENSE PROGRAM?

Financial support with the approximate value of $1,500 including

• Prep l sign up fees
• Learners License fees
• 6 x 1-hour free lessons with Rockhampton Driving School (18 hours for your logbook!)
• HPT fees
• Driving test package which includes, pre-test lesson, hire of car for test, test fees
• 3 years of license once driving test has been successful
• Completion pack including Deadly RACQ-ARTIE shirt 

Mentorship and support to complete each step in your Driving journey

• To sit with you to sign up and pay at each new step
• To complete prep L and pass the test
• Check ins regularly over the school term on progress, and to help identify any issues that may arise on your journey
• To support to book lessons, and your driving test package

 CULTURAL CLASSES

This lesson, which we have just started is scheduled in for Wednesdays Period 4. Our senior students are taking the lead and running this. We currently have classes for Didgeridoo, weaving, dance and painting (working on our NAIDOC banner). However, we would love some family involvement, so if you have a skill you would like to share with our students, please let me know.

 QATSIF

QATSIF was created to give Queensland's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families increased educational choices and life opportunities. It is an independent, not-for-profit trust managed by The Public Trustee of Queensland and operates through a small Secretariat.

QATSIF provides educational scholarships of $500 per semester ($2000 across Years 11 and 12) to support eligible First Nations students with the educational costs of their senior studies. Each year, QATSIF contacts all Queensland schools (State, Catholic and Independent) to invite applications from their eligible Year 10 students. Our schools play a vital role in: supporting students and families to apply for a QATSIF scholarship; overseeing the administration of the QATSIF scholarship within their community; ensuring that scholarship funds are spent within the guidelines and that their students remain eligible to receive the scholarship; and in maintaining contact with their parents and carers.

The funds used by QATSIF for its programs and activities are drawn from the interest earned on the original capital provided to The Public Trustee to establish the Trust. Built from the labour of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders under now-repealed laws, preserving this capital means the toil of previous generations will have a direct benefit to the generations that follow. In this way, QATSIF will always stand as a permanent and positive legacy for the future.

Eligible students in Year 10 & 11 will be contacted by myself or someone from the Senior School team and will be given an application form. To be eligible students must have 85% attendance and a minimum of a C in both English and Math. 

We also have students who attend programs off campus, that are run by community organisations. When these programs become available, I will let students know. Also, please encourage your student to check out the notice board in the Murri Unit, as I put the information for these programs and scholarship opportunities on there. I have attached a photo of a scholarship, that is currently available.

Jodie Martin

CEC