Girls at the Centre (GATC) is a joint initiative from the school, the Smith Family and the wider community, focused on providing positive role models and building the social, emotional and academic skills needed to finish school and pursue life goals. 

One of the girls involved was April Sharp, a 20-year-old who was once asked to leave the school.

“I moved to Canberra when I was 17,” Miss Sharp said. “After a year I decided I needed something better for myself and thought I should come back to school and realise my dream of completing Year 12.”

Miss Sharp said GATC helped her to strive for excellence every day.

“Some of the teachers were a bit antsy at first (when I came back) but I was determined to be the first one in my family to graduate Year 12,” Miss Sharp said. “I want to be a paramedic and work on the front line.”

For 16-year-old Alyssia Wighton, the GATC program has been the key to doing well at school and it has inspired her to pursue a career in community services.

“This is the first time I’ve been excited to get out and do something,” Miss Wighton said.

“Since GATC started I’ve pulled my head in and worked smarter – there are so many barriers and distractions but this is like a little safe place I can come and de-stress.”

Mount Austin principal Susan Lockwood said the program had already caused a bump in the school’s NAPLAN results.

“Attendance rates at our school are improving and teachers are noticing the girls are more engaged and have more positive attitudes towards learning,” Ms Lockwood said. “As teachers it’s so reaffirming that the students look forward to giving back post-school, you couldn’t ask for anything better.”

The Smith Family’s state general manager Annette Young said there was a potential to expand the program across the broader community.

“Central to the program is our dedicated team of coaches as well as community mentors who provide ongoing support to the girls and their families to help overcome barriers to attending and staying at school,” Ms Young said.