Aboriginal art program has a positive effect on students

The students came into the program after chequered histories at their previous schools.

The students are helped in the classroom by local Aboriginal elders, a group of positive, healthy role models from whom they seek inspiration and guidance.

In this classroom everyone is treated as an equal, staff uniforms are very similar to student uniforms and there is a clear policy against either students or teachers raising their voices at each other.

The program was designed for years five to 10, although is currently catering for students in years five to eight.

The benefits are clear when attendance rates are examined, some students who would otherwise struggle to attend more than 50 per cent of school classes have a regular attendance of close to 100 per cent.