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Minimbah Aboriginal Primary School

What started as a grass-roots program where senior English students from TAS would go over to read to and play with the boys and girls at the neighbouring Minimbah Aboriginal Primary School on lunchtimes once a week has grown into something of much greater significance. For the past three years TAS Junior School and Minimbah have a combined athletics carnival at TAS, giving the better athletes from both schools more competition and the opportunity for friendships to be made. TAS sponsored Minimbah to become a member of the North Coast Independent Schools Association which has enabled Minimbah’s better athletes to have representative pathways previously not available.

During terms 1 and 4 Minimbah students have learn to swim lessons in the TAS pool. The TAS band has performed at Minimbah and TAS students have joined in musical concerts given by Minimbah students. In 2012 Funding was achieved for a teacher mentoring program, which is giving Minimbah resources to those of its larger neighbour and for TAS teachers, greater insight into education issues for indigenous students.

We have also had three former Minimbah boys at TAS, funded, as most of our indigenous students are, by scholarships through our partnerships with both the Yalari Foundation and Australian Indigenous Education Fund. The schools have also come together for special commemorations such as the TAS NAIDOC Assembly and National Sorry Day. Together, these initiatives are promoting a very real sense of greater understanding and friendship between the two schools, and from a TAS perspective, has been a culturally transformative experience.

TAS is proud to be helping give less advantaged indigenous students opportunities to flourish so they may achieve their dreams and hopefully become leaders in their chosen fields, including of their communities. Students and staff are warmly encouraged to be part of the Minimbah partnership and the reward it offers all parties. For details, contact Minimbah Program coordinator Mr Tim Hughes at [email protected]