Girls Academy/Facebook
Camera IconGirls Academy/Facebook Credit: Supplied/Girls Academy/Facebook

Girls Academy: Northbridge-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service provider receives funding boost

Giovanni TorreEastern Reporter

NORTHBRIDGE-based Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Girls Academy received an additional $4 million from the Federal Government this week to boost its work with students in schools around Australia, including Kiara, Balga and Girrawheen.

The Girls Academy works with local school systems to provide support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school age girls to engage in school and pursue their goals.

The increased funding, provided as part of the 1967 Referendum 50th Anniversary Indigenous Education Package announced by the Prime Minister and Minister for Indigenous Affairs, will enable expansion of the Girls Academy program to a further 1000 girls by the end of 2019.

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Girls Academy founder and chief executive Ricky Grace said the organisation was “delighted” by the increased investment in the Girls Academy program to provide critical mentoring and leadership programs.

“The increased funding to the Girls Academy will allow the program to be extended to an extra 1000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls, on top of our already projected growth,” he said.

“The Academy program will continue to work with partner schools to deliver our ‘Big 4’ objectives; increase student attendance, improve Year 12 graduation rates, improve academic and personal achievement and facilitate post school transition planning.”

With support from the Federal Government, State Governments and the corporate/philanthropic sector the Girls Academy program will have 2500 girls enrolled in more than 35 academies nationwide by the end of the year.

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