Our residential learning site in Darwin brings educational and life skills programs to secondary students from remote communities in Arnhem Land and further afield to other parts of the Northern Territory. While staying at Hope House, Indigenous young people can participate in employment transition, vocational training and sporting opportunities that aren’t available rurally whilst also gaining skills such as food preparation, financial literacy and cleaning.
The Hope House program has been immensely successful, and we are deeply committed to continuing to provide a safe, clean and supportive environment for students to thrive at Hope House. We are also exploring possibilities for future expansions, both locally in the Northern Territory as well as interstate.
LIFE SKILLS
Life skills programs help our Indigenous students to learn everyday skills that are essential for independent living. Cooking, cleaning, budgeting, grocery shopping and planning routines are just some of the important skills developed at Hope House.
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED
Hope House provides accommodation for boys from Gunbalanya when they travel to Darwin in order to take part in the Clontarf Foundation’s football academy. To play in the competition, students must have full attendance and excellent class behaviour during the week at school, engendering greater commitment in their learning. Some students have increased their attendance at school from 40% to 100%, highlighting the impact this initiative has had in their education.
What they say
‘In community, kids “house-hop” depending on how many people are in that particular house at the time. They sleep on mattresses and share a room with up to five people. Being in Hope House is a real treat for them.’ (Hira Morgan, teacher at Gunbalanya Community School)
‘There’s no humbug and you can have a good sleep after eating good food and a shower.’ (Sarafina, age 17)
‘We are definitely going to go back again.’ (Shanarae, age 15)