Notes of a meeting with secondary students from Coonamble High School, NSW - 8 July 1999
Coonamble High School students covered three broad topics and considered the same two questions within each
- The high school: 'good things we don't want to lose' and 'the main things that need to be improved or changed'.
- The town and its people: 'good things we don't want to lose' and 'the main things that need to be improved or changed'.
- Our options after leaving school: 'good things we don't want to lose' and 'the main things that need to be improved or changed'.
The high school: good things
The quality of the education which is high thanks to the subjects available and the teachers (a couple of teachers were particularly singled out); there is a wide range of sporting equipment (although students also said they need new equipment); fun classes like dance and drama; the opportunity to visit other towns and areas.
The high school needing improvements and some suggestions
Students' attitudes were described as too cheeky, making smart comments and they don't get along with each other. "They need to keep the bad kids under control." One student suggested that stricter discipline would help; another that students should talk more together and work better together.
Books and a larger library. The school library is deficient, run-down, with old books but there is a good public library in Coonamble. Few students use the public library.
Classrooms require better quality air-conditioners and heating and also blinds or curtains. They are very hot in summer and cold in winter. It's hard to concentrate. Without blinds the sun comes in on people's eyes. There is also a need for water bubblers in the school. The toilets need to be cleaned and maintained better and soap should be provided. The canteen should provide better food.
The students called for more activities including discos at cheaper prices. And there was also a suggestion that the uniform should be updated.
The town and its people: good things
CDEP (Community Development Employment Program for Indigenous people); clothes shops; the youth and community centre; the hospital and doctors; the nursing home that looks after older people; the great public library; our schools and teachers; the range of sporting facilities such as ovals, netball courts and swimming pool; the great range of supermarkets and the take-away shops and petrol station; the child care centre for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children; the radio station which teaches both younger and older people how to use the facilities provided (although it could do with more Aboriginal content).
The town and its people: things to be improved
"Coonamble needs to improve more activities for the children because there is nothing to do but sit on the streets. They need more entertainment (eg movies and concerts)." The youth centre is too small and "is only open when they feel like it". "It used to be open only from 9-5, closed on weekends and closed at night, which isn't very useful for the kids."
"They need better clothes shops and more shopping centres. Also a McDonald's, Red Rooster or KFC." One student noted, however, that "there's not enough people to keep them going".
"We need our own basketball and sporting centre with gyms and a heated pool."
Options for the future: good things
Current options within Coonamble for school leavers include CDEP and the Aboriginal Land Council. There are few apprenticeship opportunities.
Options for the future: things to be improved
While the CDEP program was appreciated there is a need for further skills-based training. Vocational education should be extended to 10-15 year olds (at 16 many have already left school and those remaining may be too old to benefit fully).
There is also a need for job creation in the town and educated Indigenous people in the community. "We need more jobs by improving the town." If there were more shops there would be more jobs. The shops should hire Aboriginal people. "Give every single person a good chance of getting a job so they don't get driven out of Coonamble as a consequence of not having a job."
"We need a uni closer to Coonamble - eg at Dubbo."
Last updated 2 December 2001.
