The pilot program was launched in February 2022 to encourage students to engage by rising up to achieve individual improvement around attendance, achievement, leadership, mentoring and community engagement and celebrating those achievements. A key element of the program is to capture student voice to provide ongoing guidance to the program, ensuring it is tailored to individual student needs.
Students have risen up to achieve throughout 2022, with support of the program, including many students improving their Good Standing and some students rising up to accept leadership opportunities to speak publicly.
Within the Newman community, students have supported the primary schools around engaging younger students in a range of initiatives including sporting events and activities to increase a sense of belonging and safety and 15 students achieved an Association Beginner Referee Course, acquiring basic skills to be a basketball referee, and receiving a Certificate I.
The program has also supported some students to achieve OLNA which assisted them with obtaining their WACE and has contributed to an increase in attendance and academic achievement for many.
Newman Senior High School student: “A Welcome to Country is something I had always wanted to do but have been too shamed to do it. With the support I got and felt, I was able to say the Welcome to Country which made me feel proud of who I am.”
