We go on camps and we have been to camps out bush getting in touch with land and sharing our culture with non-Indigenous boys, to Perth to meet new people and the drama camps where we acted and danced at the Walkington Theatre in Karratha. We have an enrichment centre dance group. Our three main leaders left us when they finished Year 12 last year and now it is up to us. We have performed at the Nameless Festival, at our school and the primary schools and in the community. We also do art work here.

Doing all these things at the enrichment centre has built up our confidence and help us to believe in ourselves and helps us to keep coming to school to learn. Here we learn more about our culture so we can be strong. We will do good at school and make our family and community proud of us.

Roddy Hughes, Year 10
Tom Price

Hi my name is Peorge Jones and when I was in primary school I always wanted to go to the enrichment centre because my two big brothers are there and I want to be like them and get all my homework done.I will graduate from Year 12 as well like my big brother Ben Limerick. He was the first student from Wakuthuni Community to graduate.I am nearly finished Year 8 and I like playing for our enrichment centre basketball team with other students, as well as going to the camp when we went to Perth. I like the end of every day when Mrs Douglass drives us out to Wakuthuni and we have singing and laughing in the car.

Peorge Jones, Year 8
Tom Price

The enrichment centre means to me laughter, joy, new experiences and more. The centre is about giving us different experiences, challenging us, building our confidence so you can get higher grades in school. It’s very good because if some of your friends are living in town and you live at a Community you can spend some more time with your friends. I like to come to the centre because Mrs Douglass gets you into sport competitions and other stuff like dancing, drawing, work and more.Also you get food and can go on the computer which has the internet. I’m coming to the enrichment centre because my big brother Shaka Cook came here when he was in high school and he graduated from Year 12 last year. I really look up to my brother and I want to follow in his footsteps.

Brandon Cook, Year 8
Tom Price

I think that Follow the Dream will help me by providing me the extra knowledge about whatever subject I'm doing and teach me new methods of working things out. Homework classes are helping me by teaching strategies for getting my homework done.

Follow the Dream will be a good chance for me to learn the things I don’t learn in class. Follow the Dream will help me achieve my future goal, to be a vet or pre-school teacher. In the end Follow the Dream will help anyone do anything they want to do.

Allira Scott, Year 7
Kununurra

I want to be in this program because it will help me catch up on work that I haven’t finished during my normal classes and I can also work with my friends that are in Follow the Dream.

I personally think that Follow the Dream will help me achieve in school work that I don’t understand and I also like being in a room with people that I don't know; that way I get to know more people.I can also learn different kinds of ways of doing work that different people do. Follow the Dream is the place I want to be after school so I can learn more things and improve my school work. I have been going to home work classes for the last two terms to prove to Mr Garry Dagg that I want to join the other students in Follow the Dream.

Jenna Birch, Year 8
Kununurra

I would like to be a part of the Follow the Dream program to help me through the years of high school and to help me through the future of my life.

The homework centre helped me through my years of primary so I would like to join the Follow the Dream program because in the future I would like to live my dream to be a professional swimmer.

Cassidy Dempsey, Year 6
Kununurra

For the past two years I have been attending the Carnarvon Follow the Dream/Partnerships for Success program which has assisted my studies and enabled me to graduate from Carnarvon Senior High School. The program provided me with a safe working environment which helped me to complete my homework after school hours. I received great support from the tutors where I was mentored to achieve my best. While attending the program I was treated with a four-day camp to Monkey Mia which was a great experience and I enjoyed every bit of it. Using the resources at the facility, as well as the tutors, I was able to apply for both an intercultural exchange to Japan which is still pending and an apprenticeship with Dampier Salt Ltd. Overall this program has led me in the right direction completing my final schooling years.

Donald Boddington
Carnarvon

Hello! My name is Marina Henriksen and I live on Groote Eylandt in a Community called Angurugu. I used to go to Angurugu school but I didn’t like it because there was a lot of teasing and people doing the wrong thing in the class room. I was already working with Polly Farmer and had good attendance at school and good marks, so Project Coordinator Jo¹ got me a school-based apprenticeship with the Anindilyakwa Sea Rangers and allowed me to keep doing my school work. I have gone to work every day since I got the job and go to Polly Farmer for 15 hours a week as well. I work very hard but I like doing it because it is fun working with my tutors.

I have just passed Year 11 and am the first person EVER to do this on Groote Eylandt and I am very proud of myself. I have also just completed my first two (there are six) Year 12 subjects and got an A-grade for everything. There are no other students (at the ‘white’ school or the Community schools) who have ever done Year 12 so my family is very happy. I have also finished my Certificate II in Conservation and Land Management. Next year I will finish my other four Year 12 subjects. Jo said I will complete these in the first semester and then be the first Groote Eylandt student to ever graduate from the Eylandt. Jo said that it will be in the paper - I am embarrassed about this, but proud.

Marina Henriksen
Groote Eylandt

My name is Beige-Erica Dimer and I have been attending the Follow the Dream program, run by Polly Farmer Foundation, since Year 8. Currently I am in my final year of schooling at John Paul College and I will be sitting my TEE exams in November, in hope of gaining a high enough TER to study medicine at UWA. Throughout the years of being involved in this program I have had lots of help and support that has encouraged me to focus on my school work and helped me to make important decisions about what I want to do in the future. I have also received one-on-one tutoring with specialised tutors who have enabled me to achieve high results in my classes.

Being an Indigenous student I have found it hard to succeed in my goals but this program has made it possible for me to overcome these doubts and made me have a positive outlook on my studies. Every individual student has an opportunity to interact with other students from different feeder schools such as Eastern Goldfields College, John Paul College, Goldfields Baptist College and Kalgoorlie Boulder Community High school. It provides different opportunities that will help us enhance our interpersonal skills for our future choices. Not only is it all about studies and homework, there’s also a fun side to it. Throughout the year various camps are held for students with outstanding attendance and successful school grades. These camps include fun activities as a treat for those who work hard and also provide information and tours to universities or other places.

I really appreciate the opportunity given to us by Polly Farmer Foundation. It has made a difference to us Indigenous students.

Beige-Erica Dimer, Year 12
Kalgoorlie

Hello I’m a student from Alice Springs Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation and I’ve been in the foundation for three years now and am still enjoying it today. When Polly Farmer first started people stuck to their own circle of friends, but as time passed and through excursions and camps, the Polly Farmer family came closer. The working environment is very friendly and laid back, but the tutors are serious and dedicated in assisting students with their work. On one occasion one of the tutors stayed after hours to help me finish an assignment due the following day. Without Polly Farmer I believe I wouldn’t be getting the standard of marks I’m getting now. Polly Farmer is a great foundation and I hope I’m able to stick with them in the years to come!

Trent Lane
Alice Springs

Follow the Dream/Partnerships for Success is a program which helps young Indigenous students like myself who need extra time to finish off home work or need a different understanding or perspective for class room assignments. I have been attending for three years and since that time my grades have improved and I have been maintaining a good level in all subjects. It’s great to have a tutor to work with me one-on-one as they can help you really understand the stuff you miss in class and you can do so much more stuff with that help. We get food provided to us before we start our work to help us stay focused and use the school facilities such as computers, printers, work space, air-conditioning and stationery.

Sometimes I don’t like Follow the Dream because of the long hours (2.30-4.30pm) as you get really exhausted and you’ve already done a long day at school. Overall though, I love Follow the Dream/Partnerships for Success because it gives me a brighter future and makes me believe in myself and what I can achieve.

Ashleigh Garlett, Year 10
Kununurra

Follow Your Dream

Follow the dream, show us the way
We get help and support everyday
Tutors guide us and help us to learn
We try our best to reach our goal and dream
Everybody works in a team
What we do here is for the best
Everybody’s future shines
I have brothers and a sister inspiring mine
Polly Farmer will let me achieve anything

Shyler Butler, Year 8
Kalgoorlie

I am a student that attends the Follow the Dream program at Lockridge Senior High School. I thought Follow the Dream was just a stupid homework class. I thought I wouldn’t like attending Follow the Dream because I thought it would make people think I’m dumb because of the use of tutors, and a nerd for attending a homework class. I didn’t think the tutors would know what they were talking about, but they are qualified for tutoring on certain subjects which gives a great advantage to completion of work.

I first turned up feeling shamed out, but once you sit down you already feel comfortable because everyone is sitting down having a feed and chatting. I think it just feels like a really laid back working atmosphere with a lot of fun and friendly people. If it wasn’t for the people at Follow the Dream I wouldn’t have my scholarship to attend Guilford Grammar High School.

Reuben Kinsela, Year 10
Lockridge

The Graham Polly Farmer Foundation’s idea to be involved with Follow the Dream/Partnerships for Success has helped so many Indigenous students from Year 8 to 12. I’ve been in the program since Year 8 and am now in Year 11 and plan to go to university to study to become a nurse. Most students use Follow the Dream to the best of their advantage and go far in life. Ezra Jacobs-Smith for example had been in the program since it started and he is now in his second year of university and passing all of his units. In some ways I look up to Ezra and hope to have a successful career path like him.

Follow the Dream Mandurah is located in a demountable at Mandurah Senior College. Over time the demountable has become a very colourful, homely room. Local Noongar people got involved to paint the outside of the demountable giving it an Indigenous theme and the inside is decorated with various posters and art works including those of the Balarinji artists. Students that attend Follow the Dream really appreciate all the posters and artwork as it reminds them of who they are and inspires them to achieve their goals.

Polly Farmer is such a champ for being involved with Follow the Dream/Partnerships for Success. I am proud to be part of a program to which he lends his name.

Bianca Tassell, Year 11
Mandurah

This program has helped me succeed in my grades because it has given me the time to finish my work and homework. Jan, our project coordinator, has helped me a lot over the past four years always asking me what work I have to do and what subjects I have work in. I don’t think I would be able to graduate if not for her. I have a traineeship in the Commonwealth Bank and I miss out on school one day a week and without the support I have here I wouldn’t be able to finish all my school work.

Kelly Rule
Governor Stirling

The enrichment centre is a place that I go every day after school. I don’t have to go every day but I choose to because it helps me stay ahead with all my school work. I also get to see all my friends and the wonderful Mrs Tomlins. I get help at the centre that is not available anywhere else and without which I would struggle to complete my high schooling. The tutors there are always willing to help you no matter what kind of work you have.

Once or twice a year we go on a camp as a centre together. We all decide where we want to go and help to find places where we could stay for the week. We all get a say in the type of activities we can do while we are there.

I think the centre is really important to the Indigenous kids in Newman because we have somewhere where we can get help getting our work done and also it’s lots of fun and you get to meet lots of new people.

Lynette Lockyer
Newman

Follow The Dream is a great place to come to work and learn. We normally start off by having afternoon tea and talking with friends before we go off and start our homework either by ourselves or with a tutor. All the tutors are willing to help, and they are all nice which means we can get all the work done on-time and are always up to date with other work. We go on a yearly camp and we also get to go to career days and other excursions. Last year’s camp was a good learning experience with all the activities and games we did. It was based at Ern Halliday campsite in Hillarys. Everyone got along with each other and Jan, our project coordinator, planned really fun activities.

Follow the Dream gives the students opportunities to do well with the help of tutors, to experience new things, to go on camps and excursions and to do well in life.

Ashleigh Coster
Governor Stirling

As I came through the door I could hear all the laughter in the house. This place is called PHEP (Port Hedland Education Partnership). It is like a second home to me and to most of the students who attend. I’ve been in PHEP for two years now and have improved in most of my subjects.

We have a nice, big feed and then just before 3pm we start on our work. The tutors help us with our work. Since I’ve been in PHEP my homework has been handed in on time. When there is about 15 minutes to go most of the kids go outside to play basketball. I'm really glad I got into PHEP, it is a great experience.

Djidin Taylor
Port Hedland

Some time at the start of the year I was invited into an unusual place - somewhere I have never been before. I was greeted in by a kind lady Miss Rhodes¹. There were a lot of other different kids doing their homework and having something to eat and drink. It was like my very own personal home. Being accepted into this place got me to finish my homework a lot quicker with some tutors there helping me. I’ve also welcomed this place into my very own heart; I can come here without having any fears or tormenting things to bother me.

This centre has caused me to achieve a lot more at school and to set a goal or dream and follow it no matter what people think, do or say. I'm enjoying my stay here - it’s the best thing that has ever happened. It keeps me out of trouble and helps me to learn the fact that this is a place of trust, communication and learning. I’m quite thankful for this place starting up. Now all of the kids here get the help we need to succeed. Thank you!

 

Brannon Pilkington
Port Hedland

When I first came to PHEP (Port Hedland Education Partnership) I knew that it would help me with all of my homework. All the tutors at PHEP have helped me finish my homework, assignments and essays and get them handed in on time.If it wasn’t for PHEPs I would probably be behind in a lot of my classes like science, math and English. PHEPs has kept me on task and up there in my classes.

The first time I came to PHEPs I was so shy and I didn’t know many people, but now I am the opposite of what I was when I started. PHEPs has helped me become less shy and more out there from what I was when I first started school.

Kimberley McKie, Year 8
Port Hedland

Walking through the doors of an unusual place, at first it was quite scary, seeing heaps of new faces turning to stare at me is quite uncomfortable. Once I started getting to know the students, tutors and the coordinator I found PHEPs (Port Hedland Education Partnership) fun. It’s like a second home to all of the students that go there. Since I’ve been going to PHEP, I’ve improved on my grades and I’ve become better at maths and science with the help of the tutors. I like going to PHEPs because I always get help there when I need it and the people are really nice. My attitude has gone from bad to good since I’ve been going to PHEPS because learning is fun. Thank you so much to my tutors - Mrs Rhodes and Nan Mary - for all your help.

Lonnie-Marie
Port Hedland

PHEPs (Port Hedland Education Partnerships) has helped me a lot with my assignments and homework. In two years I think I have improved so well. When I started high school I was scared as any typical teenager. But as soon as I arrived at PHEP I felt right at home. Before I used to be scared to ask for the teachers help or even get their attention. Now I have gained a lot of confidence as far as schooling is concerned. I feel that by the time I have gone into Year 12 I will have achieved enough confidence to obtain good employment.

Sarah Jane Agale
Port Hedland

I have been regularly attending Follow the Dream/Partnerships for Success for two years now. Our enrichment centre is open three afternoons per week and I attend every afternoon because I really like the program. Follow the Dream allows us to work with teachers from the school on a more personal level than a typical classroom setting would allow, establishing positive relationships with our tutors. My grades at school have improved because of Follow the Dream.

My time at the enrichment centre has created opportunity for relationships not only with the tutors, but also with the other students in the program which I would not normally familiarise myself with outside of Follow the Dream. These relationships help me establish self confidence in public speaking. I have received Certificates for Attendance for terms one and two this year, for being the student who attended the enrichment centre the most hours, which was 36 hours each term! In summary, Follow the Dream is a highly beneficial program which helps everyone involved achieve to their full potential. I am extremely grateful that this program is running in my school, and would like to thank all those who continue to put in the hard work to keep it running.

Kai Rivers, Year 9
Swan View

When I started in the Polly Farmer program I thought it would be easy and fun but then I found out it was more work then school. I had an understanding of my expectations and what I needed to do to stay a part of this program: Not only did I have to achieve high grades, I also had to keep up a good behaviour performance both in and out of school, setting an example for people younger then me.

I enjoy attending the homework centre and the activities that it has to offer. I’m also glad that this program is giving me the opportunity to be with my friends and gain new ones that I may not have talked with at school. The program has helped me realise that when I do put my mind to it I can do better at my school work and it now has given me the incentive to push myself further if need be. It has also helped me gain confidence in public speaking; I found that I am more willing and confident to get up and discuss anything I need to.

I am currently in Year 10. I hope to successfully achieve my SACE in Year 12 and leave school. I am hoping to go to university in Adelaide as soon as I finish Year 12. I know I have a long way to get to Year 12 but I know I can push myself and with the help of this program achieve what I need to graduate successfully. In 10 years time I would like to see myself graduate uni and become a veterinarian. I would like to work with animals. I am hoping that this job will give me access to not only working with domestic animals but wild native animals as well.

Tamara Rigney
Port Augusta

OPPORTUNITIES

Opens doors
Participation
Parental support
On going support
Reaching goals
Teachers and students working together
University education
Nurturing young minds
Indigenous group work
Targets and Achievements
Inspiring to go further
Encouragment
Success