Born in Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, Denise grew up with her three brothers and five sisters in her father’s home town of Port Augusta. A good education was always seen as a number one priority in Denise’s household, as a result of her Mum always having to battle with her own illiteracy and the problems associated with not being able to read and write.

“Mum supported us all through school, drumming into us the importance of education, so I tried really hard finishing Year 11 and starting my final year,” Denise said.

“In Year 12 I was more than willing but I found I couldn’t get any support to help me get through the year,” she said. “Eventually I dropped out which was absolutely crushing; I just felt so disappointed in myself and felt I had also let my Mum down.”

When Denise became a mother, firstly with Anthony – or Budda as he is more affectionately known - and then with Billy-Joe six years later, she was determined that her two boys get a good education.

When Anthony reached Year 8, The Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation was just starting a program in Port Augusta, which was then known as Footsteps Forward.

“Budda needed extra support so I was looking for any opportunity to give him a hand up,” Denise said. “A mutual friend had spoken highly about Stephen Carter who was running the program and I thought to myself that I would do whatever I could to get an opportunity for my son to participate.”

“Budda was a bit reluctant at first because it meant a lot more work, but once he got stuck into it he never looked back.”

“It is a bit like throwing them in the deep end, and at times I had to convince him to take the opportunities which were offered to him, but despite the struggles he always overcame his problems.”

One experience which was particularly life changing for Anthony was the One and All trip on the sailing ship.

“The boat was really out of his comfort zone but once he had decided to take part he had to see it through, which was a major achievement for him.”

Anthony ultimately decided to leave Follow the Dream and undertake the Get Set program, designed to prepare young people for employment. After successfully completing this, Anthony was offered an apprenticeship; however the global downturn saw all apprentices at his new workplace laid off only six months into his training.

Despite him losing his apprenticeship, Denise could not be prouder of his achievements.

“In my mind he has been a great success, setting his sights on a goal and reaching it, it was just pure bad luck and rotten timing which prevented him from continuing from strength to strength,” she said. “I still know he can do it though, he has made up his mind he wants to get a trade and he will do his utmost to achieve that goal.”

Denise’s younger son Billy-Joe has started Year 8 this year and has just been accepted into the Follow the Dream program.

“Billy-Joe saw how the program helped his big brother so he is very excited to be starting his own journey.”

Denise Martin
Port Augusta

The real success is the development of mutual trust and respect between the student, the families and the coordinator. As coordinators we have the wonderful experience of being welcomed into the families where we are privy to all the information that impact upon the student, their behaviour and performance at school. Through these deep, significant family relationships we are also welcomed into the Aboriginal communities.

I make myself available as if I was part of the community and families which has earned me a nick name from a community member as “24/7”. This came about several years ago when one of our students - a young man whose father worked away for a month at a time - broke up with the love of his life and had become unsettled at school and at home. At 3am one morning his Mum checked the bedroom to find pillows under the covers to make it look like he was in the bed. Worried sick she phoned me there and then and I got up and went looking for him. My search failed to find him but at 4am he turned up and I went home to get a few more hours sleep. Counselling with the young man happened the next day. Two and a half years later this young man is employed and with his new girlfriend often visits me and my partner at our home.

This story is not uncommon with all the coordinators as we are all passionate, dedicated and believe in the differences that we will make to the lives of our students through compacts, contracts, mutual trust, respect and the lifelong relationships we develop.

Stephen Carter
Project Coordinator
Port Augusta