Harvey is located 140 km south of Perth, with a population around 2,800, of which approximately three percent identify as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Island origin.
The Harvey Aboriginal Corporation (HAC) is a community initiative designed to educate, inspire and reconcile all peoples with traditional Aboriginal knowledge and customs. They deliver a range of services, programs and activities across the Harvey Shire and sought to improve access to resources to engage students in primary and secondary education, and to reduce the barriers to accessing higher education.
Brad Vitale from HAC explained: “With better engagement in education, we can strive towards the key focus areas of our strategic plan, in particular Community (Moort), which is to build opportunities for engagement, empowerment and purpose; and Prosperity (Boya), which is to promote and support opportunities for skills and knowledge development. This will ultimately improve resilience, sustainability and livability within our community, as greater access to education and training opportunities locally will be achieved.”
HAC received a grant for $8,419 from Telstra’s Connected Communities program, which is delivered in partnership with FRRR, to improve access for Aboriginal students to digital equipment. The grant contributed to the purchase of an electronic interactive whiteboard, two computer tablets and two wide screen monitors at the Boola Bidi Dreaming Centre in Harvey. This digital equipment supports lifelong learning, education and training for the community. Now they have access to these digital resources, HAC has engaged students in regularly homework classes, as well as supported weekly Noongar language classes.
Brad said they are most proud of being able to provide a safe, culturally appropriate and comfortable space for First Nations students to further their learning, ultimately assisting with improved education outcomes.
“The only challenge was once the equipment was installed, the uptake was so great – beyond what we anticipated – that we have had to devise a fair booking system until we are able to purchase additional equipment to cater for the high demand,” he said.