What is happening?
Last September 9, High school students from Carinity Education Rockhampton and Wadja Wadja High School in Woorabinda have participated in a unique collaboration through the Australian Government’s City-Country Partnerships program.
The program encourages partnerships between independent and remote schools, fostering positive relationships among students, especially those with a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
The students recently gathered in Yeppoon for an adventurous inter-school collaboration.
They enjoyed a rare opportunity to sail a large racing yacht around Rosslyn Bay, courtesy of the Winds of Joy sailing initiative.
Additionally, they participated in the Outdoor Skills 4Kids survival camp, learning how to handle dangerous situations in wilderness environments.
Why it Matters?
The City-Country Partnerships aim to create understanding and respect between students from diverse backgrounds.
It offers students from remote areas access to new educational and social opportunities while teaching empathy and cultural respect, which will have long-lasting benefits for the broader community.
Carinity Education Rockhampton Principal Lyn Harland said, “The partnership is designed to nurture friendship, cultural respect and education pathway supports.”
By the Numbers
- 14 partnerships are currently established between city and country schools.
- Students have participated in survival camps, team-building activities, and outdoor challenges.
Zoom in
Earlier this year, students from both schools attended a multi-day adventure camp near Toowoomba.
They tackled obstacle courses, navigated waterways, and completed tunnel challenges, all while carrying people on stretchers through mud pits.
These activities further solidified teamwork and resilience among participants.
Zoom Out
Wadja Wadja High School Principal Paul Ryan said, “By understanding each other we learn to appreciate one another and then from that great friendships can be created.”
This philosophy underscores the goal of City-Country Partnerships – to create a brighter, more inclusive future for Australians by fostering greater cultural understanding and cooperation.
Local Impact
In Rockhampton and Woorabinda, these collaborations are enhancing student outcomes and attendance rates while also equipping young people with practical skills, such as navigating interpersonal relationships and outdoor survival.
“It is helping students to foster a greater understanding of themselves and empathy towards others,” added Harland.]
What to look for next
Future collaborations between Carinity Education Rockhampton and Wadja Wadja High School promise more adventures, outdoor learning experiences, and continued friendship-building across regional and urban communities.
