Deputy CEO's Update

MITS Ten Years On… A Reflection on Our Students’ Journeys

Ten years ago, many of our students were little children living in communities spread across Country in Northern Territory and Victoria. Some were growing up in small, remote towns; others in busy regional centres. They were learning first from their families — from parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles — about who they are, where they belong and the stories that connect them to land, language and culture.

At that time, their families held hopes that were both simple and powerful. They hoped their children would be safe. They hoped they would be proud of who they are. They hoped school would be a place where their children were understood — not judged. They hoped their children would learn to read, write and speak up with confidence. Most of all, they hoped education would open doors that had not always been open before.

Many of our students were attending local primary schools, sometimes moving between schools, sometimes finding learning difficult, sometimes feeling that school wasn’t a place built for them. Yet even then, each child carried strengths — humour, resilience, deep cultural knowledge, creativity, and a strong sense of relationship.

Today, when we look at the young people in our classrooms and boarding houses at MITS, we see how far they have come. We see teenagers who can advocate for themselves, who support each other, who step into leadership, who try again after setbacks, and who are beginning to imagine their futures — apprenticeships, jobs, further study, and roles within their communities.

Their growth has not happened by accident. It has come through the commitment of families who trusted us with their children, staff who work every day to build relationships and teach explicitly, and a school community that believes culture and learning belong together.

A decade ago, families hoped for opportunity.

Today, we are watching those opportunities begin to take shape — one student, one achievement, and one step forward at a time.

We thank our families for their courage and partnership. The journey of education is shared, and every success belongs to the young people first, and to the community that stands behind them.

We are proud of where they started.  We are proud of who they are becoming.

And we are excited for where they will go next. 

By Lia Bartholomew