Work Experience Program: Mackellar Girls High School

Extract

Six Aboriginal girls participated in this program in 1977. The girls board at Kirinari Girls Hostel, Allambie Heights.

Mr Landy, the Headmaster of the Far West Hospital School, agreed to have the girls work in the school. I also sought permission for two of the girls to work in the hospital; this was granted by the sister-in-charge of the hospital.

The girls spent each Monday working with the teachers in the school and in the hospital.

For the first three weeks I collected the girls each day from the hostel, took them to the school and then home again. They then travelled independently to and from the hostel and school. This they did with no mishaps. As the girls were from isolated country areas, I was concerned about the travelling, even though it involved catching one bus for a relatively short distance.