INDIGENOUS STUDENT MENTORING EXPANDS
In its second year, the AISSA Indigenous Secondary Students Mentor Program grows from 55 students to 112 students across 20 schools by the end of 2017.
The program uses a mixed methods mentoring approach, combining face-to-face and e-mentoring, to provide Indigenous students with tailored mentoring that meets their individual needs.
A key highlight of the program is the inaugural Kokoda Track Reconciliation Trek, where 12 students from three Independent schools (Immanuel College, Tyndale Christian School Murray Bridge and Torrens Valley Christian School) participate, along with AISSA Indigenous Student Mentor, Justin Wilkey and Reconciliation SA staff and mentors. The students demonstrate significant emotional and physical growth as they complete the challenging 103km journey in 8 days.
The 2017 Kokoda Trail Reconciliation Trek commemorates the 75th anniversary of the World War II battle against the Japanese, honouring the 11 South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen who fought in Papua New Guinea (Photo from the National Museum of Australia website)
Jeremy Last, Torrens Valley Christian School student, and Justin Wilkey, AISSA Indigenous Secondary School Student Mentor, meet Les Arnel, a Kokoda Veteran from South Australia before the trek (Photo from Radio Adelaide, 2019, listen to the full interview HERE)