iKINNECT was a four-year program run through our Airds Connect Centre, which concluded at the end of 2012. It aimed to improve education and employment outcomes for indigenous youth in the area.
This non-school-based program focused on engaging students to learn, intensive literacy and numeracy, development of life skills, and cultural relevance. Students were supported by their family, the community and their school.
Family members were encouraged through participation and involvement in learning activities, cultural development and rewards, with the aim of increasing their support for their children’s education.
The indigenous community was engaged to support the youth through cultural development programs and camps, and by creating opportunities for greater exposure to work experience and career options, in particular for Year 9 and 10 students.
Finally, the school was involved, aiming to improve attendance, retention rates, and student performance and to support existing school-based education programs through holistic support of non-school-based programs.
The iKinnect program was fun, interactive and culturally relevant for participants with a focus on literacy and numeracy support, computer technology skills advancement, life skills enhancement and peer leadership.
A final evaluation of the program will be published during 2013.
This program was supported by the AMP Foundation.
