SAASTA
South Australian Aboriginal Secondary Training Academy
South Australian Aboriginal Secondary Training Academy (SAASTA) provides Aboriginal high school students with a unique sporting and educational program. Our academies work with school leaders and local communities all across South Australia. We give students the skills, opportunities and confidence to dream, believe and achieve in the areas of sport, education, employment, healthy living and connection with their culture.
The SAASTA Academy program is developed for students in years 10 to 12 who are studying the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE). The Academy takes place in a structured and highly supportive classroom environment by SAASTA teachers with the assistance of ASETOs and relevant community members to support the learning. The Whyalla SAASTA program includes students from Whyalla and Cowell.
In addition to the educational outcomes achieved by our students, we place a strong emphasis on enabling them to grow as people, connect with their culture and develop their leadership. As a result of this focus, SAASTA students are considered ambassadors and role models who represent not only SAASTA but Whyalla Secondary College, their families, and the Whyalla community. Students are required to achieve and maintain a set of standards known as Key Performance Indicators.
The SAASTA Academy is for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students on a ATAR, and/or SACE pathway. Students can select SAASTA in combination with other specialised programs and VET offered at the College. Your MIND Mentor or Care Group Teacher will be happy to talk to students about their subject selections inclusive of participation in SAASTA to ensure they achieve their personal, academic and pathway goals.
SAASTA Academy students are provided a uniform. They are invited to wear this uniform on their SAASTA day. It is a requirement that when students are wearing their SAASTA uniform that they wear it with pride and a high degree of respect for the brand.
In SAASTA, students can gain up to 70 SACE Credits:
Year 10
Stage 1 – Aboriginal Career Exploration Program Community Learning (10 Credits)
Stage 1 – Integrated Learning (10 Credits)
Stage 1 – Aboriginal Studies (10 Credits)
Year 11 and 12
Stage 2 – Integrated Learning (20 Credits)
Stage 2 – Health and Wellbeing (20 Credits)
Key Focus Areas
| Academic Performance | Students are supported to achieve academic success in all curriculum areas, including subjects outside of SAASTA. |
| Attendance | Students are expected to maintain an attendance rate of at least 80%. All absences must be explained and recorded following the school’s attendance policy. |
| Behaviour | Students must always follow their school’s Behaviour Management Code. |
| Teamwork | Students are expected to show a high standard of teamwork and actively participate in all aspects of SAASTA. |
| Pride | Students represent SAASTA at school and in the community in a positive manner, including wearing their uniform correctly. |
| Respect | Students show a high standard of respect and courtesy toward all staff, students, coaches and visitors, as well as when outside of school in the community. In sport competitions, there is a strong emphasis on fair play and positive sportsmanship. |
Success in each focus area, individually and collectively, fosters stronger student engagement in learning and helps set students up for successful post-school transitions.
Year 9
SAASTA Connect
SAASTA Connect is a curriculum program for Year 9 Aboriginal students that acts as a pre-entry engagement and incentive program for students who are intending to enrol in the Whyalla SAASTA Academy in Years 10, 11 and 12.
Through the SAASTA Connect program, students focus on healthy living, cultural identity, Aboriginal languages, traditional sports and respectful relationships. The program is designed in close collaboration with SAASTA HQ, our school’s ASETOs and the local community. The program is then delivered by selected teachers and Aboriginal staff.
Students who maintain KPIs may be invited to attend special camps and gain entry to the Academy in Year 10.
The Connect curriculum is aligned to enrich the Australian Curriculum in History, Geography and Health and Physical Education. Note that Connect students must also enrol in a core History and Health and Physical Education subject.
Year 10 – 12
SAASTA Academy
The SAASTA (South Australian Aboriginal Secondary Training Academy) Academy program is developed by SAASTA HQ and delivered in selected South Australian public schools for Aboriginal senior secondary students in Years 10 to 12 who are studying the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE). The Academy takes place in a structured and highly supportive classroom environment by SAASTA teachers with the assistance of ASETO’s and relevant community members to support the learning. The Whyalla SAASTA program includes students from Whyalla and Cowell.
In addition to the educational outcomes achieved by our students, we place a strong emphasis on enabling them to grow as people, connect with their culture and develop their leadership. As a result of this focus, SAASTA students are considered ambassadors and role models who represent not only SAASTA but Whyalla Secondary College, their families, and the Whyalla community. Students are required to achieve and maintain a set of standards.
SAASTA Academy students are provided a uniform. They are invited to wear this uniform on their SAASTA day(s). It is a requirement that when students are wearing their SAASTA uniform that they wear it with pride and a high degree of respect for the brand.
Scholarships
A scholarship is generally an amount paid or allowed to a student at an educational institution for the purpose of study. A fellowship grant is generally an amount paid or allowed to an individual for the purpose of study or research.
Did you know there are currently more than 460 scholarship opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on the Indigenous Pathway Portal? This is a great starting point for students who are intending to undertake tertiary studies next year and want to explore scholarship opportunities.
Find out more information here.
Elite Academies
SAASTA currently operates five sports academies and one STEM Academy in Adelaide in partnership with the following organisations:
- AFL Men’s – Port Adelaide Football Club
- AFL Women’s – Port Adelaide Football Club
- Football (soccer) – North Eastern Metro Stars Football Club
- Netball – Netball SA
- Basketball – Aboriginal Basketball Academy
- STEM – Wirltu Yarlu at the University of Adelaide.
Students are invited to trial for the elite academies in Term 3. Places in these academies are based on additional entry requirements.
Inspiring Possibilities
