The Cocos Keeling Islands are a remote territory off Western Australia in the Indian Ocean some 2750 Kms North West of Perth and 900km from Christmas Island. Its 2 coral atolls comprise 27 tiny islands with the main Malay population on West and Home Island.
So when Sports Challenge Australia (SCA) received a call from the District High School wanting a Charter of Values and Behaviours to be established for all, along with physical and mental health audits the SCA team was up for the challenge!
With cyclone Freddie battering the Indian Ocean area near Cocos in February 2023, SCA had to be on standby to fly with all our equipment at a ‘minutes notice’ to reach the islands and start this important journey for the school and the local Malay community.
Led by Dr Garry Tester CEO and Josh Chivell Programs Coordinator, the team completed a 30 hour round trip of Professional Development and building a Charter to take the school and the community forward from 2023 and onwards.
With a full house of staff and local Malay Education Assistants, an outstanding Charter was developed with unanimous support for a new road map defining their mission and goals to promote student success and holding each person accountable for meeting the school’s objectives.
The vision for a Charter was lead by the school leadership team of Kath Granger (Principal) Sharon Spring ( Deputy) and Ben Hart (Deputy), to have everyone involved to clarify how Cocos Islands DHS wants to promote student success, provide accountability for all support, innovation and collaboration as a ‘light house’ for the whole island community.
Once completed each community member will receive a credit card size Charter and this will allow a clear mandate for staff, community members, families and students when interacting with each other.
SCA completed some fun team activities to build the culture of the school and some personal wellness, along with leading edge strategies to assist teaching outcomes in one of Australia’s most remote locations.
This outstanding day has set the new journey with an ongoing partnership with SCA to provide an independent audit of the Charter behaviours, provide baseline physical and mental health data, along with leading edge resources and programs.
As one staff member explained ” This is the best PD I have ever done and I am so excited by our Charter and the new direction for the school and the local community”
The challenge for Cocos has begun, the journey continues.