Aboriginal students graduate in record numbers

South Australian Aboriginal Sports Training Academy (SAASTA) runs an educational program that provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander high school students with skills, learning and development opportunities.

And given the results it has achieved it seems to be worth continuing. A record number of students from the SAASTA have graduated with their Certificate III in Sport and Recreation at an event held at the TafeSA Regency Campus.

In line with the growing number of graduates, SAASTA will be expanding their subject selection for VET courses in 2019 to cater to the different skills and interests of students within the program.

In addition to the Certificate III in Sport and Recreation, SAASTA students can now choose to study a Certificate III in Community Services, Certificate III in Hospitality, Certificate III in Education Support or a Certificate III in Fitness.

Adding four new courses will provide more choice in future pathways and allow students to learn essential skills that are valuable within their own communities.

Each course counts for credits towards a student’s SACE completion and the Certificate has proven to be a major factor in ensuring that the SACE completion rate for Aboriginal students has increased in the last four years.

Director Aboriginal Education, April Lawrie said; “It’s fantastic we are able to provide students with the opportunity to learn skills and gain a certification that they will be able to use in their own communities and act as role models for younger children.

“SAASTA have done an excellent job extending current relationships and forming new partnerships with Registered Training Organisations so students can access greater variation in their subject selection for VET courses.”