WIRREANDA HIGH SCHOOL

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (15:35): I rise this afternoon to congratulate Wirreanda High School on its achievements in the last 12 months. Under the leadership of Principal Tony Lunniss and Deputy Principal Zoe Christopher it has reached new grounds, grounds not reached for many years. I also want to commend all the students and staff, including support staff, who have worked in a united way to develop their professional credentials and understanding in order to produce some excellent results.

Principal Tony Lunniss recognises that these results are just on the way to where they need to be, but the achievements made over the last few years are considerable. If we start with the SACE completion rate, in 2008, 56 per cent of eligible students completed their SACE; last year it was 88.57 per cent—a real turnaround. This figure compares with the state completion rate of 92.24. The school recognises that it still has more to achieve to reach that completion rate, but it is determined to do so.

Not only are the young people staying at school to give themselves the best opportunities for more choices and chances in life but their achievements are also improving. Between 2010 and 2012, the number of young students achieving 50 plus in their ATAR has increased nearly fourfold. That is another significant achievement, as is the achievement of the proportion of students who have attained As, rising from 5.4 per cent 2009 to 11.31 per cent in 2012.

There is still some distance to go to meet the state average, but once again the principal, like I and all the staff, knows that students who come from poorer areas can achieve, and they will achieve given the right support and by giving their teachers the professional development that allows them to do their jobs in a way that puts all students in this state on an equal footing.

Another achievement of Wirreanda is the Wirreanda Adaptive Vocational Education program led by Paul Sherman, the senior leader in the area. This program caters for young people who are not succeeding in the mainstream school. They often have serious mental health issues, a range of physical and intellectual disabilities, and a range of general social problems.

The stories are really quite gut wrenching when you think of young people who have been going through our school system for quite some time but become so reclusive that they cannot make it to school and have to be visited by youth workers and supported in their home and gradually encouraged to attend school. The fact that our society can allow that situation to develop for more than one young person who cannot leave their house at age 15 or 16 is really quite tragic.

Wirreanda is addressing this creatively and in a determined manner, and last year was recognised as the regional winner in the Inspirational Teaching Awards for its work with the community. It is working now very closely with Re-engage Youth Services, another excellent program from the South and, partnering with them, they have just won a substantial grant of more than $60,000 to refurbish a bus to be used as a mobile education centre. The partners are very pleased to have accepted this bus from the State Transport Authority and will refurbish it to become a mobile catering and entertainment service.

So, using this bus, with the supervision of teachers who understand the barriers that each child is facing, they will be able to undertake a range of studies in the VET area, including hospitality, retail, DJ and hip-hop music (which can be integrated learning for SACE stage 1), skateboarding (again, something that can be integrated into SACE stage 1), and general skills development with VET accreditation.