Senator Jacinta Price and Nationals leader David Littleproud MP listen to concerns from board members of Yirara College and the Alice Springs Town Council. Photo: Facebook.
Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson have denounced the Federal Government over its funding of infrastructure projects at two schools in Central Australia, claiming it’s not enough.
Together as the respective Shadow Ministers for Indigenous Australians and Education, they said the $18 million Central Australia Boarding Response Fund was insufficient to meet the needs of the most marginalised children in Alice Springs.
It is alleged that only Yirara College’s $10 million project was fully funded. While Yipirinya School – which applied for $9.95 million to build a $14 million boarding facility – received only $6.3 million, and St Philip’s College’s $10 million project received just $1.7 million.
Senator Price said boarding schools played a crucial role in supporting Indigenous students in remote communities who often had to travel long distances to attend.
“Labor has forced Yipirinya School to wait two and a half years for funding, only to provide less than half of what is needed to deliver their project,” she said.
“In a region burdened by poor school attendance, youth crime and chronic disadvantage, this is too little too late from Labor.”
Senator Henderson echoed the sentiment of her Country Liberal Party colleague, noting the boarding school fund was only developed in response to Labor’s failure to match the Coalition’s commitment to Yipirinya School.
“Boarding facilities in Alice Springs are critical to ensuring Indigenous children can attend school safely, free of family violence and dysfunction,” she said. “At Yipirinya, these facilities would play a vital role in keeping teenagers off the streets and out of jail.
“Education Minister Jason Clare’s piecemeal approach has shortchanged the most disadvantaged students in the country.”
Yipirinya, the largest Indigenous school in Central Australia, has been promoted by Senator Jacinta Price in the past. Her mother, Bess Price, is on the school faculty. Photo: Facebook.
The NT Senator also claimed “it was not surprising” the Federal Government decided not to release the review of Central Australia boarding school options, “given officials admitted in estimates earlier this year the $18 million figure was not arrived at as a reflection of the needs on the ground”.
Senator Price added her concern about the budget cuts to NIAA’s $21.6 million Indigenous Boarding Providers Grant program that was meant to support 2300 students, along with the government redirecting $40.4 million from the On-Country Learning to Improve School Engagement program to the NT Government, instead of providing it equitably to schools as part of the Alice Springs community safety package.
According to the senators, by not providing sufficient funding, Labor also axed the construction of two Indigenous boarding schools in East Arnhem Land and the Pilbara.
One of the boarding schools in question, Yipirinya, made several headlines this year in relation to its principal, Dr Gavin Morris.
The largest Indigenous school in Central Australia told the public it was “deeply concerned” after he was charged with five counts of aggravated assault against children in August.
“We want to assure our community that the safety, wellbeing and education of our students is our highest priority,” said a school spokesperson. “While the investigation continues, Yipirinya School remains committed to transparency and cooperation with the authorities.
“The Yipirinya School believes in due process and will fully cooperate with any ongoing investigations.”
While Dr Morris’ role is still in question, NT Police said in June they had received reports of alleged historic physical assaults on children at the school, which allegedly occurred on multiple occasions in 2023. Earlier this year he pled guilty to two counts of employing a person who was not a registered teacher.
Senator Price has made calls for Yipirinya to get more funding and a specialist boarding facility. Her mother is also part of the school’s faculty.
