Page 6 - View-Matters-April-2023

Bridging the gap

Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

20,015
20,015 participants in Smith Family
learning and support programs in 2021-22
identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander people.

Learning for Life student Kaytlyn.

aytlyn, a proud Indigenous young large gap in the educational achievements “So, it’s not just that financial confidence and
woman, grew up on the north-west of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stability that’s provided, but sponsorship
K coast of Tasmania and always dreamt students, compared with their non- also gave me that one-on-one mentorship, or
of going to university. However, instability Indigenous peers. Aboriginal and Torres mental support.”
at home and living in a small, remote Strait Islander students are often less likely Empowered by her sponsorship, Kaytlyn has
community made her goals feel out of reach. to complete Year 12 than students from non- become an inspiring young leader. She was
Indigenous backgrounds.
“I always had the vision that I would go to recognised in 2022 as Young Australian of
university, but there were a lot of unknowns,” One in five students on The Smith Family’s The Year for Tasmania.
Kaytlyn says. Learning for Life program are Aboriginal “I’ve been given a platform to speak out
and Torres Strait Islander. As the largest
“I didn’t know how I was going to get there about the issues that are important to me,”
because of my family’s financial situation community sponsor of Learning for Life Kaytlyn says.
at the time. There were never any real students, VIEW Clubs is proud to support “The importance of inclusion of Indigenous
conversations about how university would The Smith Family’s work with Aboriginal people in our communities; the importance
be funded, or where I was heading.” and Torres Strait Islander children and of taking action on climate change and the
communities.
Kaytlyn was connected with The Smith importance of giving young people a voice.”
Family in high school. Generous support Did you know VIEW members While the proportion of Aboriginal and
from a Learning for Life sponsor enabled her sponsor more than 350 Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander school students
to achieve her dream. and Torres Strait Islander Learning at or above national minimum standards
for Life students?
“I was lucky to connect with The Smith in numeracy has improved over the past
Family and that was where things kicked Thanks to support from her sponsor and The decade, there is still much work to be done.
off. The Smith Family was there to help me Smith Family, Kaytlyn reached her dream of The Smith Family is committed to helping
in the transition and [enabled me to] have going to university, moving to Melbourne to close the gap between Indigenous students
that confidence and security to move away,” study a Bachelor of Science, specialising in and their non-Indigenous peers through
explains Kaytlyn. climate change. providing vital learning programs and
Sadly however, many young Indigenous “Natalie, my Learning for Life Coordinator, financial support.
students do not have access to the support was super helpful – particularly in COVID
and resources they need to succeed at times. I was able to call her and talk about it,
school and beyond. This means there is a and she always kept in touch with me.

6 VIEW MATTERS