The last time Katie Lea Wheeler walked the halls of Kanahooka High School in the Illawarra, she was a student.

Now, she has returned as a proud member of the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy

(NASCA) team to help launch the Illawarra region’s first Young Women’s Academy for Indigenous female students.

“We help the girls with a lot of wellbeing support, do cultural activities,” Katie Lea said.

“It’s really about mentorship, as we help them get careers outside of school, to succeed in educational outcomes at school and always embed cultural activities in whatever we do.”

Kanahooka High School introduced the NASCA for young women, after being inspired by young role models like Katie-Lea.

NASCA is voluntary program supporting Indigenous female students from Year 7 to Year 12, providing targeted educational, cultural, and wellbeing support designed to enhance school engagement and academic success.

The program at Kanahooka High School currently supports 30 students, with capacity for 50 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young women.

The official launch featured a smoking ceremony and a welcome to country by Aunty Joyce Donovan, reflecting the program’s deep cultural roots.

Head Teacher, Secondary Studies (Aboriginal Education), Ben Rostron is overseeing the program.

“There hasn’t really been any Indigenous girls’ programs in our area, so we’ve been on the lookout a long time for this,” Mr Rostron said.

“Following community consultation and partnering with NASCA, we established the first Young Women’s Indigenous Academy in the Illawarra and South Coast.”

NASCA compliments the school’s existing Clontarf Academy for Indigenous male students, ensuring equally robust support for female students.

Students benefit from weekly sessions covering topics such as goal setting, mental health, study skills, and cultural learning.

“Depending on what outcomes we need to target, we embed lessons followed by cultural activities,” Katie-Lea said.

“ These include games and information sessions that deepen students’ connection to Indigenous stories, languages, and traditions, guided by Elders and community members.”

“I think having a program like this when I was at school would have opened my cultural awareness earlier. It wasn’t until after school that I connected deeply with my culture and community. NASCA helps girls build those connections from the start.”

The academy provides holistic support including wellbeing workshops, one-on-one and group mentoring, healthy meals, and cultural excursions.

Kanahooka High School continues to deliver exceptional learning opportunities for all students, underpinned by its High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Policy.

This policy supports meaningful challenges and tailored learning to ensure students with high potential and gifted abilities thrive, supported by ongoing professional development for teachers.