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The Smith Family Closing the Gap for I ndigenous Girls

The Smith Family Closing the Gap for I ndigenous Girls. Our Vision and Mission.

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The Smith Family Closing the Gap for I ndigenous Girls

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  1. The Smith Family Closing the Gap for Indigenous Girls

  2. Our Vision and Mission The Smith Family (TSF), established in 1922, is a national, independent children’s charity, helping disadvantaged Australian children to get the most out of their education, so they can create better futures for themselves.

  3. The Smith Family and Indigenous Girls • TSF suggests that there is a gap in understanding and provision of support for the education and economic participation of Indigenous girls.

  4. International evidence says: • HEALTHY EDUCATED MOTHERS • HEALTHY EDUCATED NEXT GENERATION

  5. What is the evidence for supporting girls? • ….educating girls and women delays early pregnancy • Reduces pregnancy rates: The number of births per woman drops by almost one birth when she gains four additional years of education (Klasen 1999). • “Educating girls yields a higher rate of return than any other investment in the developing world. “ Lawrence Summers, then Chief Economist of the World Bank,1992.

  6. The evidence….. • Creates intergenerational education benefits: Each additional year of formal education completed by a mother translates into her children remaining in school for an additional one-third to one-half year (Filmer 2000) • Increases women’s labor force participation rates and earnings: Providing an extra year of schooling for girls beyond the average boosts eventual wages by 1,020 percent (Psacharopoulos and Patrinos 2002).• Empowers women: Educated women are likely to participate more in household decisions and take a stand for themselves, thus reducing their vulnerability to domestic violence (Sen 1999).

  7. Indigenous Girls in Australia: not enough research • Indigenous girls in the NT 5 times more likely to become pregnant before 19 years of age than non-Indigenous girls • 40% Indigenous mothers smoke during pregnancy • Indigenous girls more likely to become single parents (32% of all Indigenous births in NT had no attributed paternity registered) • Indigenous women and girls more likely to be the victims of domestic violence • Indigenous girls less likely to complete Year 12 than non-Indigenous girls • Indigenous girls less likely to work after school even than boys • Indigenous girls more likely to be in the criminal justice system than non-Indigenous

  8. From local beginings • Girls at the Centre is a home grown Alice Springs program. The Indigenous Education and Employment Taskforce asked The Smith Family to design a program for Indigenous girls. • Girls at the Centre is now a Smith Family program. • It is funded by the generosity of the Australian public and corporates.

  9. Outcomes • Improved attendance and literacy levels • Life goals: aspirations and positive pathways, action plans and relationships life skills, • Life skills: improved social and emotional wellbeing and resilience • Communities, schools and workplaces that support “emerging women”.

  10. Girls at the Centre • Social Capital : Networks of information and trust • BONDING • BRIDGING • LINKING

  11. Girls at the CentreGirls Coaches: Hassle and help!

  12. Girls at the Centre – Girls Room

  13. Girls at the Centre - Breakfast With A Mentor

  14. Girls at the Centre Curriculum Enhancement

  15. Girls at the Centre Experiential mentoring

  16. Experiential mentoring : “reconciliation in action” “….This was an experience not just worth having, but vital for our family. I urge the school to continue supporting this program. The purpose as explained to us was to encourage the girls to continue in school,…. In reality we gained much more than we gave. “

  17. Girls at the Centre – Brokered in Programs • Families and School Together (FAST) strengthening relationships “This is the first time I have seen families make a sustained commitment to a program to support their daughters at the school. The program was more effective than any other recent school attempts.” former Principal “I didn’t realize how this program would help the whole family. Not only my daughter has been helped. Me too.” mother • Mooditj– sexual health and positive life skills • Core of Life – the realities of pregnancy and early parenting • Lizzie Wagner Presentation Skills – 1 day workshop in grooming, deportment, presentation, business and social etiquette and self esteem.

  18. Work shadow

  19. LfL Scholarships • All eligible girls participating in the program receive a LfL scholarships • Past Girls at the Centre participants now at Centralian Senior College receive a scholarship • LfL scholarship until the end of university or TAFE

  20. Outcomes

  21. Outcomes so far… • 50 girls and their families signed to the program annually • Attendance rate up to 20% higher than other Indigenous students at Centralian Middle School • G@C girls on SRC and year level leaders • 2010 Centralian Middle School DUX was a G@C girl • 100% retention to Year 10 • More Indigenous families engaged with school • Alice Springs community organisations partnering to support Indigenous girls

  22. Ask: What about the girls?

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