Woorabinda, locally known as ‘Woorie,’ is a remote town in Central Queensland on the traditional lands of the Wadja Wadja/Wadjigal and Ghungalu people. Woorabinda is a small community of around 1,300 Indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
As one of Australia’s most culturally diverse communities, they have 52+ nations living in the community. Woorabinda State School is the only primary school in the community with 190 children from kindergarten to year six. The school’s motto is ‘Proud and Deadly,’ with the values – We are deadly by being – kind, strong, respectful.
With enrolment and attendance as a significant concern, education is one key area where the disadvantage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders persists. Primary school education is essential for children’s cognitive and social development, and it has a strong association with employability, income, health, and control over one’s life. One of the biggest struggles for the younger population is maintaining a high enrolment and attendance rate for the school.
Our goal is to work together, empower the kids and use technology as a tool for their future. Data Zoo has provided 30 laptops to support the development throughout their primary school years, and to ensure that they have access to a device when needed.
Recently, the school has seen success with student engagement and enrolments due to technology and STEM lessons. Hence, we are working together to promote a learning environment that fosters positive interaction and engagement through technology.
So far, our team has had the opportunity to interact and teach the year three kids digital literacy lessons. Throughout term three, they have learned how to introduce themselves and what they enjoy through PowerPoint, and currently, in term 4, they are learning how to create digital art.
We want to thank Rachel Bachmann (Principal of Woorabinda State School), Miss Casey McKenzie (Year 3 Class Teacher), the teachers, support staff, Traditional Owners, Elders, and the kids of Woorabinda for allowing Data Zoo to work together. We look forward to the new lessons and continuing to work with the kids and school.