Australian schools reintroduce Aboriginal skills

Updated April 6, 2010 09:24:22

Australian police in central Queensland have turned to Aboriginal culture to help solve some modern day problems. They've developed a program which encourages indigenous boys to re-connect with their traditional culture. The program is proving so successful it's now being expanded to other areas.

Presenter: Maria Hatzakis
Speakers: Randall Warkill, Police Liaison Officer; Craig and Dillon, students, Rockhampton State High School; Michele Moore, Deputy Principal, Rockhampton State High School, Queensland, Australia

HATZAKIS: It's lunchtime at Rockhampton State High School... and four budding teenage gardeners are getting their hands dirty.

STUDENT: I just pulled the guinea grass out, it's real sharp, it's a weed, yeah it's a weed.

HATZAKIS: But there's more to this garden than the gum trees, shrubs and soil. It's part of a program teaching Indigenous teenage boys about hard work, determination and respect. Police Liaison Officer, Randall Warkill helped set up the "Which way? This Way!" program in a couple of Rockhampton high schools three years ago... to stop kids from turning to a life of crime.

WARKILL: We just wanted to help our young fellas. We were going into the schools and talking to the young fellas and there was nothing there for them and a lot of them were going to school and not actually going to class, they were walking around outside the class and we sort of said well mate there's got to be something done you know

HATZAKIS: Aside from the school gardening, as part of a 10 week course the students also head to the bush. When they're there an Aboriginal Elder teaches the kids about Indigenous history, hunting, music and dancing.

WARKILL: Until you know where you come from you really can't move forward and even though there's things going on probably in their personal lives, unless they know who they are and where they come from, we don't really see them moving forward.

HATZAKIS: 15-year-old students Craig Allen and Dilan Gorrie are smart, bright eyed and engaged kids from Rockhampton State High School. They both admit they got more than they bargained for when they signed up.

CRAIG AND DILAN: I did it to get out of class at first but I then learnt it's a lot more than just getting out of class. Uncle Lester taught us that in life you have to lay your foundations first to better yourself in the rest of your life. We started making the garden and Uncle Lester taught us that foundation is like life pretty much you make different decisions at different times of life and whatever decisions you make ends up what you're doing later in life.

HATZAKIS: Rockhampton State High School is a big school with more than a thousand students, and about 10 per-cent are Indigenous. Michele Moore is the deputy principal. She says guidance from strong Aboriginal role models has lifted students' pride.

MOORE: There's just one aspect of the school that they have shone in and it carries over to other aspects but there's a part of the school that's them. We've seen them being interested in school life and putting themselves out there and joining in all sorts of activities. Prior to that they were a bit more reserved and a bit more overcome by what they call 'a shame' don't put yourself out there to stand out, just be part of the crowd.

HATZAKIS: The "Which Way? This Way!" program has won a crime prevention award from the Police Citizens Youth Club. It's now also moving beyond Rockhampton with schools in Mackay planning to take it up. It's all a triumph for it's co-creator, Police Liaison officer Randall Warkill. But he's not content with just working in schools: he's now looking at helping homeless kids.

WARKILL: They're kids at risk, off the track, we're going to bring them back, change their behaviour. In saying changing their behaviour, we're just going to plant a seed so they can make the choice to which way they want to go in life.