Gin Gin named 2012 Schools First state winner

September 05 2012

NAB Schools First has announced Gin Gin State High School as this year's Queensland State Impact Award winner, receiving $60 000 in funding for its outstanding school-community partnership.

Gin Gin State was selected from 11 Impact Award winners around Queensland for its successful partnership with the Kolan Landcare Group.

A project dubbed 'Helping Hands', developed with Kolan Landcare Group that included students with disabilities, has since expanded and involves all members of the student body.

Today the program involves many more industry partners drawn from a broad range of local agricultural interests and focuses on catering for every student who might benefit from project-based learning.

The Gin Gin Alternative Pathway Program (GGAP) introduces students to environmental management concepts and agricultural projects. The purpose of the partnership is to increase engagement with learning, address attendance issues, reduce poor behaviour and improve academic outcomes.

The partnership and the programs have been very successful, with students showing improvements in all areas. The school participates in agricultural network meetings that include industry, government departments and other schools. GGAP has been recognised as a leading-edge training program.

Head of NAB Schools First Rebecca Sherwill said all the Impact Award winners in Queensland were worthy winners but Gin Gin State High School really stood out.

'Gin Gin State High School school's program is a great example of schools and communities coming together to improve overall student outcomes' Ms Sherwill said.

'It's a fantastic achievement to be named the Queensland State Impact Award winner.'

Gin Gin State High School will vie with other state and territory winners for the aggregate $200 000 National Impact award, which will be announced in Melbourne on Wednesday 7 November.

Each Impact Award winner in Queensland receives $30 000. Seed Funding awards, for schools in the early stages of a community partnership, attract $15 000 and student awards for student-initiated school-community partnership ideas receive $5000.

More than 29 per cent of schools nationwide have applied for a NAB Schools First award since the program began in 2009 and more than 2100 NAB employees now volunteer their time to school-community partnerships.

The program is a partnership between NAB, the Foundation for Young Australians and the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).

It is based on research showing student outcomes can be improved when schools work in partnership with local community organisations and businesses.

For details of all the successful Schools First school-community partnerships in 2012, visit the NAB Schools First website.