Pipalyatjara School

Clinic | Community Centre | Community Office | School | Store

Nearly all the students are Anangu and their first language is Pitjantjatjara. They live in large family groups. The students generally only speak English at school and maybe a little bit at the store and clinic. About half the students at the Pipalyatjara School come from the Kalka Community, which is situated approx.16kms from Pipalyatjara. These students travel by bus each day. Watarru students' families have links with Amata, Fregon and Pipalyatjara.

Relationships between the students and their teachers are very important. At first the students are very shy with new people. The Anangu Coordinator and the AEWs in the classrooms play a large role in student welfare.

Some parents and families help their children come to school. Teachers and AEWs are their other support. Student management is heavily dependent on AEWs.

A lunch program has been developed and is run by all staff which provides fruit and sandwiches at Lunch time. Some classes may choose to run a breakfast program. These programs have proved to be an essential part of improving attendance and attention.

The Mission statement for Pipalyatjara Anangu School seeks to empower Anangu to work effectively across cultures by providing appropriate skills and experiences in a caring, co-operative learning environment.

Long-term objectives are to provide opportunity for Anangu to access educational opportunities from CPC to Year 12 at Pipalyatjara, to achieve improved learning outcomes in all areas of study, to have Anangu students fully participating in their learning so they are able to make appropriate choices in the way they will contribute to the development of community.

Pipalyatjara Anangu School site