Celebrating Year 12 Achievement

More Indigenous children are completing Year 12 than ever before and whilst there is still a long way to go in closing the education gap, the Foundation is proud to celebrate and share in the achievements of students from our community partners.

Last year for the first time in Palm Island history 100% of all senior students graduated from Year 12 with a QCE. “We strongly believe that it takes a whole community to educate a child and this year we celebrated the unprecedented outcomes from working together. We recognise the significant support these students received from the Cathy Freeman Foundation on their journey towards completing Year 12,” said David O’Shea, Deputy Principal, Bwgcolman Community School (2016).

All students who graduate from Year 12 receive a personal letter from Cathy Freeman. “We want their education to go beyond school so it is very empowering for the students to receive a letter from Cathy upon completion of school. I feel really proud and emotional knowing the struggles some of them had throughout school including peer pressure and all of the other things that go with it, but they stuck it out.” said Ruth Gorringe Palm Island Community Liaison Officer for CFF.

Five outstanding Year 12 students from Xavier Catholic College in Wurrumiyanga also celebrated their graduation last year. All of the students plan to continue their studies with ambitions ranging from working in administration to becoming a P.E teacher. One of the graduates, Trish Tipiloura, who also plays football for the Darwin Buffalos says her biggest goal is to get drafted for the AFL’s women’s league.

We are so proud of all of the students we work with and especially wish the Year 12 graduates all the very best in pursuing their future dreams and goals.