With a love of football and basketball, year 12 student Seth has his sights set on studying sports management at Flinders University after school.

"I like not just the sport but outside the sport as well – what happens behind the scenes”, Seth says.

For close to 5 years, the Ocean View P-12 College student has been part of the department's South Australian Aboriginal Secondary Training Academy program (SAASTA). Seth joined SAASTA Connect in year 8 and graduated to the academy in year 10. The keen basketballer is also in the SAASTA Specialist Academy for basketball.

“I don’t think I would be at the same place I am right now without the SAASTA Academy”, Seth says. “The teachers are people I can rely on. They've provided a good environment for me and my peers – they’ve not only helped me in the classroom but outside the classroom [too]”.

While Seth’s school attendance was already on track before joining the program, he says being part of SAASTA made him want to be at school even more. Seth says he has gained many things – more enjoyment from school, broader connections with other young Aboriginal people and support to explore career pathways, as well as experiences such as competing in the recent Santos Aboriginal Power Cup.

Supporting young people like Seth to dream big and achieve is a key driver for Kaylene Dyinawili Wombat as Director of Aboriginal Pathways with the Department for Education. “Those values, these fundamental principles of connection, community, culture and leadership are very evident in the development of our young people”, Kaylene says.

Kicking goals with the SAASTA program

The SAASTA program is a key component of the department's Aboriginal Education Strategy and is recognised for its significant impact on Aboriginal student engagement and retention. By providing a unique educational experience deeply integrated with Aboriginal culture, SAASTA empowers students to pursue meaningful pathways into further education, employment and training.

SAASTA School Operations Coordinator Jamin Tripp says the SAASTA program provides Aboriginal children with a safe space in the classroom where they can learn together with other mobs from around South Australia.

He says SAASTA's success lies in its ability to offer a supportive environment for students to explore, nurture, embrace and celebrate their culture and identity as Aboriginal young people.

“High expectations of engagement and academic achievement are embedded in all aspects of the program, ensuring students are well-prepared for their future endeavours”, Jamin says.

“This is reflected in an innovative, unique and high expectations curriculum program, rich in Aboriginal cultural learning, practices, language, history and contemporary experiences”.

SAASTA programs are delivered in a culturally safe learning environment where students explore the narratives of their own lives in partnership with their communities. The engaging and personally relevant nature of the SAASTA learning programs significantly increase student learning outcomes.

To find more about the department’s Aboriginal Pathways programs, visit Our Aboriginal Education Strategy initiatives and progress.