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Ahead of Origin 1, the Palaszczuk Government has announced more support for ARTIE, an Indigenous education program supported by the Queensland Former Origin Greats (FOGS).
Announcing the investment with FOGS Gene Miles and Jharal Yow Yeh, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said the $5.6 million investment in Achieving Results Through Indigenous Education (ARTIE) would support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students programs over the next four years.
“Arthur Beetson embodied everything about Queenslanders striving for success,” the Treasurer said.
“As the first State of Origin Maroons leader and as Australia’s first Indigenous captain of a national team, he set standards that are followed to this day.
“The ARTIE program named in his honour is a fitting legacy that continues to support Indigenous school children in many locations across the state.”
Minister for Education Grace Grace said the ARTIE Academy Program, founded in 2010, currently operates in 37 state primary and secondary schools.
“ARTIE assists to Close the Gap in educational outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students,” Minister Grace said.
“It provides opportunity to participate in programs that encourage improvements in school attendance, behaviour, academic achievement, effort, and ultimately Year 12 attainment or its equivalent.
“It’s great to have a program in place that has Indigenous mentors leading from the front, which is very motivating for Indigenous youth.”
The Palaszczuk Government first funded the ARTIE Academy in 2019, enabling it to operate in 19 state primary schools.
There are currently 2048 boys and girls participating in the primary program.
FOGS Executive Chairman Gene Miles said supporting school attendance at early years has immediate benefits for our students as sustained engagement and attainment improves educational outcomes.
“With the support of our Indigenous education coordinators, this model then successfully helps our students to transition into our feeder secondary schools program,” Mr Miles said.
“Apart from inspiring league players and fans, Artie was firm in the need for young First Australians to be educated, to finish school and to be employed.
“Our ARTIE Academy operates with high expectations for effort, behaviour, achievement and commitment.
“As an organisation we have identified and familiarised ourselves with the many barriers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students encounter with regards to employment, education and training,”
FOGS work in collaboration with communities, government agencies and other service providers to play an integral role in evidential outcomes, through improving the school attendance, engagement and schooling-completion rates of First Nations youth.
The ARTIE Academy is an initiative of FOGS and funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments.
