AN Aboriginal academy offering employment and life skills to help the indigenous community enter the workforce was launched in Joondalup this week.
Kaila Riley (23), who spoke at the event, was one of the first students to train at the Aboriginal Academy of Sport, Health and Education.
“The opportunity to be one of the first students to train at the academy and what I have achieved through my training there has changed my life,” Kaila said.
“After finishing high school, I ran off the rails. Instead of pursuing my ambitions, I got into drugs and alcohol. That ended my training and, for a time, my hope of achieving anything in my life.
“The birth of my little boy, Dwayne, two years ago was a wake-up call. I decided that I needed to change because I wanted better for him – but I had no idea what I wanted to do.”
Kaila said the sports coaching course at the academy was the perfect opportunity to combine the two things she was passionate about – sport and children – and was the key to improving her health and achieving success.
Her commitment to a Certificate II in Sports Coaching secured her employment as an Aboriginal education officer at Greenwood Primary School.
“Before I started the program, I was very shy and found it difficult to talk to people,” she said.
“Training at the academy has helped me gain confidence and self-esteem that I would not have had otherwise.”
Academy executive director Kim Hawkins said the academy connected with Aboriginal students in a manner that recognised their needs.
“In 2009, the academy’s pilot program enjoyed a 100 per cent completion rate with 25 students graduating with a Certificate II in Sports Coaching and skills in nutrition, leadership, personal development and first aid,” Ms Hawkins said.
“Over 50 per cent of these graduates continued on to further training, including Certificate III in Fitness and Certificate III in Education Support.
“The program has had an excellent retention rate, particularly with students who were at risk of not attending.”