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Gunbalanya gets on with truancy task

17 January 2014

Traditional Owner Evonne Gumurdul, Gunbalanya Sport and Social Club Manager Alex Siebert, West Arnhem Councillor Davison Narwirridj, West Arnhem Regional Council Mayor Lothar Siebert and Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion. Traditional Owner Evonne Gumurdul, Gunbalanya Sport and Social Club Manager Alex Siebert, West Arnhem Councillor Davison Narwirridj, West Arnhem Regional Council Mayor Lothar Siebert and Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion.

The community of Gunbalanya was placed in the national and international media spotlight recently when the Federal Government began rolling out its new program to combat truancy.

West Arnhem Regional Council (WARC) Mayor Lothar Siebert says the Council will give the Government all the assistance it needs to help make its new school attendance program a success.

Truancy officers began work in the West Arnhem community last week, asked with improving student attendance rates at the West Arnhem College Gunbalanya Campus under the Federal Government’s Remote School Attendance Strategy.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion said the Gunbalanya trial would inform the rollout of the $28 million program in 40 remote communities across the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.

The program would cover more than 40 schools, with one school attendance officer employed for every 20 students, he said.

Mayor Siebert expressed concerns about the strategy in a frank meeting with Mr Scullion at the WARC Gunbalanya office on Tuesday, January 7.

“If they believe this program will bring results, then we will support them in that, but we will be looking for on-the-ground results in two or three months’ time, not just on day one,” Mayor Siebert said.

“There is a need for a whole-of-community approach to truancy, and we as the Regional Council are committed to playing our part. The Federal Government will get all the support that we can give to help make its strategy work.”

Mayor Siebert said WARC currently runs diversionary youth programs at the Gunbalanya Youth Centre aimed at keeping school-aged children actively involved and engaged in healthy activities outside school hours.

“We thank Minister Scullion for his commitment to provide West Arnhem Regional Council with $1.25 million in funding, some of which will provide continuing support of our youth programs, as well as for ongoing roadworks,” Mayor Siebert said.

The Australian Government this week approved a $250,000 WARC funding application under the Aboriginal Benefits Account to upgrade and modify existing space in Gunbalanya to help assist and accommodate youth leadership groups and other activities.