Recent education programs
Kununurra District High School
Kununurra District High School is located in a remote part of Australia, with approximately 910 students from kindergarten to year 12. The school population includes around 460 Indigenous students spread across the year groups.
This school offers some of the most positively received programmes; such as the Polly Farmer Foundation, Follow the Dream and The Clontarf East Kimberley Football Academy.
Rottnest Island Authority’s education team extended an invitation to this extremely bright group of 14 students who were performing in The Tournament of Minds, which is an inter-school challenge program that has seen 92 schools from all over the country competing for the title. Both teams, Primary & Secondary won places in the state finals – CONGRATULATIONS
After their win at The Tournament of Minds, the kids came to Rottnest Island for an afternoon of fun and relaxation.
To begin the day we started with an Adventure Challenge that requires teams to acquire answers for question based on the history and environment of Rottnest Island. The kids were then captivated with a Quokka Safari, learning about the natural behaviour and consequences of human interaction.
We finished the day with an exciting look at ecosystems within the majestic Salt lakes investigating Sea Monkeys and the migrating bird life of the Lakes.
By Natasha Fitzgerald
RAWA Community School
The education team on Rottnest recently had the pleasure of taking the RAWA Community School on a weekend eductional program.
RAWA Community School is located in a remote community of Punma approximately 650km out of Port Hedland.
A group of 24 students aged between six and 18 along with a few Elders and a hand full of teachers travelled for at least two days to get to Rottnest Island. Where we had organised some fun conservation based educational activities held on the beach, some of these kids had not seen the ocean so this was to be a trip to remember.
The first activity on their agenda was "Beach Combing" where we collected items from beach debris. From there we held "Sea Star Bizaar", looking at Star fish through Microscopes and looking at all the fascinating specimens at the Discovery Centre. Then it was off to the beach for an afternoon of just fun in the sun.
It was a fantastic day enjoyed by all and the Rottnest Island Authority thoroughly enjoyed hosting this wonderful group.
By Natasha Fitzgerald
The Kununurra District High School
On another occasion we also had the pleasure of hosting The Kununurra District High School Visit – Polly Farmer Foundation - Follow the Dream week end.
Polly Farmer, follow the dream are a not for profit group focussing on providing training opportunities for indigenous students from remote and metro areas.
The Rottnest Island Authority education team has provided the Polly Farmer Foundation (Follow the Dream) with the opportunity to bring a group of exceptional students, aged 15 – 17 years of age, for the weekend fully sponsored by the RIA. The education team organised several conservation based educational activities such as “Sea Monkeys” held at one of our prestigious Salt Lakes investigating Sea Monkeys, then a Pioneers & Prisoners Tour with one of the most experienced tour guides on offer, Rottnest Island Volunteer Guide Associate, Richard Fox (Special Request Coordinator) held a History tour “Pioneers & Prisoners History Tour” especially for the group which was extremely well received.
They finished the week end off with an “Adventure Challenge” a race around Rottnest Island with 30 questions to lead to the next check point, similar to the “Amazing Race”.
It was an exceptional weekend, a big thanks to the group we have some excellent pictures and fabulous memories, and overall the students enjoyed themselves immensely.
By Natasha Fitzgerald