Aboriginal Education

We would like to congratulate Sophia-Rose Markham, who recently travelled to Sydney for the 2023 ABCN Leadership Summit. The summit involves scholarship recipients and their mentors coming together at a corporate venue for facilitated group sessions over 2 days and a celebratory dinner with members of ABCN's Board and Council. Sophia was also chosen to co-emcee at the leadership dinner.

Sophia was one of 45 students across Australia who received the 2022 ABCN Accelerate Foundation Scholarship, which means Sophia will participate in a three-year accelerate program that involves regular one-on-one meetings with a mentor, group facilitated sessions and workshops.

The ABCN Foundation aims to level the playing field and empower high-potential young people from low socio-economic status (SES) backgrounds to achieve their potential. 

Sophia Is pictured with Peta Melki from ABCN

Thank you to Louise Drielsma for accompanying Sophia.

Sophia was an outstanding ambassador for Armidale Secondary College at the ABCN Accelerate Leadership summit. She took on the role performing the Acknowledgement of Country as well as MC at the Summit dinner. She made the most of the opportunity to connect with a mentor from the Commonwealth Bank. 

In an action-packed couple of days, Sophia stood out for her leadership skills as well as her warmth and kindness to the other students on the program. 

We have a wonderful program running this this term for some of our students, covering a range of topics including Social & Emotional Wellbeing, Healthy Eating/Nutrition, Drug & Alcohol, Vaping health effects / Smoking, Sexual Health Talk, Social Media Bullying, Fitness.

Mandy from Hunter New England Health will be working with us alongside some other local health organisations, to deliver these topics to our students. We look forward to updating you in the weeks to come.

Kaylene & Tash

Hi my name is Pamela Widders, I was born and raised in Armidale,  I have just recently been appointed as the Armidale Community Connector; I have nearly 40 years’ experience working with the Department of Education at Local, Regional and State levels in  a number of areas from volunteer to AEO, ACLO, Teacher, SEO and Assistant Manager. Prior to this role I was teaching at an Independent school in Sydney.

The Community Connector initiative is led by the Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) as part of a key government priority to increase the proportion of Aboriginal students attaining their HSC by 50% by 2023 while maintain their cultural identity. This pilot is funded by the NSW Department of Education  and Department of Premier and Cabinet.