AMANBIDJI PRIMARY SCHOOL

ABOUT OUR SCHOOL

Amanbidji Primary School is a one teacher primary school serving the Community of Amanbidji, Northern Territory, Australia - population 60-80. Enrolment ranges between 12-18 students ranging from Transition to Year 7, with very good attendance levels.

Location and Climate

Amanbidji is located 475km west of Katherine along the Victoria Highway and 62km south of the Victoria Highway along a dirt road. The dirt road is impassable in the wet season.

Amanbidji Community is situated on a cattle station previously named Kildurk, which was owned and managed by the Durack family. The property was handed back to the Traditional Owners by the Australian Government in 1976 and is now Aboriginal Land. A permit is required to visit the Community.

A mail plane service operates once a week on a Thursday. The Community receives police and medical services from Timber Creek, 170km to the East. The clinic staff attend once a fortnight. Limited supplies may be purchased from the local store. The average daily daytime temperature varies from 28 degrees to 34 degrees in the dry season, and between 38 degrees and 46 degrees in the wet season, accompanied by high humidity. A feature of the wet season is the spectacular lightning shows common to this region.

Communication & Travel
The School and Teaching-Principal's housing telephones are serviced through Telstra. The School is network is serviced by Optus. Amanbidji School is networked through the LATIS domain, managed in Darwin by CSM. This allows the students to use basic computers and access the internet. Interactive Distance Learning (IDL), is also accessible by the School. This was established during the latter half of 2003. A computer, printer and other hardware will be provided as part of this program.

A Northern Territory Government troop carrier is provided for school use.

Community
The Community has an ongoing C.D.E.P. program (Community Development Employment Project). The School receives support from the Community, School Council and AASPA Committees. There are 16 students enrolled in the school this year. Since 2001 the school has received $8,000 from the Indigenous Education Branch for a linguist to assist in the delivery of the local Ngarinman language and culture.

Features
The school employs a full-time teaching-principal, a part-time assistant teacher, a tutor and part-time cleaner/janitor.

The ages of students range from 5 years to 13 years. The curriculum focuses on student needs, interests and how to enhance relevant life skills. The school encourages and engages involvement of the local Community and neighbouring communities. Involvement is enhanced through videos, newsletters, barbeques, information evenings, homework programs and special events and visitors.

Daily reading is held during the morning sessions and is based on the Fitzroy Reading Scheme. The school community supports a Homework Reading routine.

Organised local, interschool and interstate excursions are used to foster social and academic skills and overall self-confidence.

The school implements Outcomes Profiles and the Northern Territory Curriculum Frameworks strategies and assessments in programs.

The information technology component at the school offers all children computer/internet use daily and a construction technology program that promotes hands-on from simple mechanism understanding through to complex.

Attractions in the area
The country surrounding Amanbidji Community is open plain with low-lying trees and various grasses. The Community is situated on Kildurk Station, originally owne by the Durack family, which was run as a cattle station. The Community housing is next to the original homestead.

The creeks and West Baines River stop flowing in the dry season and in the wet season do flood but are of no threat to the Community. However, in the wet season all movement in or out of the Community stops due to the flooding creeks and black soil.

Fishing access at the nearest river requires 15 km travel in a 4WD.

The Community water supply is limited and is supplied by bores only.

Local bush tucker is available depending on the season but is not abundant. The community may gather edible yams, berries, bush apples and other food in season. Common native fauna to the area are brolgas, jabirus, bush turkeys, corellas, galahs, king brown snakes, whip snakes, death adders, sugarbag flies, goannas, blue tongue lizards, Ta-Ta lizards and dingoes.

BACK TO TOP

Specific Allowances

Amanbidji School is a Category 3 school with full allowances.
• Three return travel to Darwin each year (FOILS)
• Reimbursements of freight costs of perishable goods. 12kg or 23kg with dependants.
• Rental rebate (100%)
• Four business days per year
• Isolated School Allowance