Indigenous schools placements - Australia

Product Details

For applicants from the UK, we have a number of bursary schemes available for volunteers from a variety of backgrounds.

Our bursary scheme and funded placement projects reduce the barrier of cost for young people experiencing financial problems. They are designed to help young people who would not otherwise be able to afford to go.

For more information contact Liz McKenna on lmckenna@lattitude.org.uk

Lattitude is giving volunteers the opportunity to experience the diverse and multi-cultural nation of Australia.

The placements are in boarding schools with a mixture of indigenous and non-indigenous students in the day school, and nearly all indigenous students in the boarding house. One school is unique in that it operates exclusively for indigenous children, managed by an all-indigenous board. The boarders come from isolated cattle stations, mining communities or Aboriginal and Islander communities who still live according to their ancient tribal traditions.

Many children will have never seen a real town before arriving at the school - you can only imagine the culture shock when they arrive! There are more than 40 indigenous languages spoken in the Northern Territory alone, so the children must adapt to attending classes conducted in English, which may be their second or third language. Having lived in small ‘bush’ communities, they must adapt to the more regimented eating, sleeping and hygiene routines of a busy boarding house and the expectation that they regularly attend classes and wear school uniform. And of course like all children, they are faced with the challenge of homesickness, amplified by the strangeness of their new setting. This is where the volunteers come in; they help the students adapt to their new environment, assisting with basic literacy lessons and any health issues that arise in moving from a small tribal community to a busy boarding house.

Volunteers also assist with the after-hours program, management of the dormitories and provide academic support to various classes in the day school. In schools throughout the rest of Australia, you could be helping out at boarding houses, assisting with sports coaching, excursions and camps or supporting drama, music or outdoor education activities. You may also have the opportunity to work along side other volunteers from Germany.

When can I go?

January, July, September.

Locations

Lattitude indigenous placements are all in boarding schools in Darwin (Northern Territory) and Townsville (north Queensland), both ideally located to explore the natural treasures nearby. From Darwin, you can easily go for a weekend trip to Kakadu National Park to do a spot of Barramundi fishing, or go swimming in Katherine Gorge.

Alternatively, from Townsville, you could go diving or sailing over the Great Barrier Reef, one of the richest marine habitats in the world. Or simply laze on the beach. The indigenous placements are very special. (In Australia, the word 'indigenous' is used to refer to two very distinct cultural groups: the Aboriginal people who inhabit mainland Australia, and the Torres Strait Islanders, who are more closely related to their New Guinean neighbours.)

Accommodation

Accommodation varies. In boarding schools volunteers will have either a room in a boarding house, a flat or a house. However sometimes rooms will have to be shared. Those volunteers in day schools will be accommodated with local families. If you would like to know how many vacancies are currently available for this placement, please contact us by using the enquiry form or telephone number below.

Qualities / skills

The volunteers that go to indigenous schools need to be resourceful, resilient and ready to become involved in a culture with quite different needs and expectations. But it is an amazing experience for the right volunteer. In working to empower children for future education or training, volunteers are doing work where it is truly needed, and in return gaining an experience and insight that is simply not possible elsewhere.