Bis partners with Girls Academy to help Indigenous students

Girls Academy was established at the school in 2017 and provides in-school programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls.

Bis chief executive officer Brad Rogers said the company was proud to partner with the academy, which “helps thousands of Aboriginal girls overcome some of the common barriers, which keep them from attending school”.

“At Bis, we foster an inclusive culture which embraces difference,” he said.

“We also provide a range of opportunities in our business for women and Indigenous Australians to build a career in the mining industry.”

READ MORE: Indigenous girls embrace new academy

Girls Academy chief executive officer Ricky Grace said private sector support was vital to the organisation’s efforts to close the gap in education outcomes.

“Our aspirational funding model includes one-third from the business community and partners like Bis are vital to the work we do,” he said.

“We have grown significantly in recent years and now work with more than 2,500 students across Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory – but there is still much work to be done.

“The Girls Academy encourages the girls to see they are somebody important and capable who can help themselves and help others as well. When these girls believe in themselves, they can achieve anything – and they will be the community leaders of the future.”

Bis’ Arron Johnson visited Gunnedah High School on Tuesday to meet Girls Academy’s Kylie Milsom and Blanche Biles and some of the students.

“Bis believes in empowering our local workforce through community engagement activities and we are glad to have the opportunity to support this powerful initiative in Gunnedah,” he said.

Ms Biles and Ms Milsom said they were grateful to Bis for supporting the program, which focuses on school attendance, academic performance, health and well-being, post-school planning, and cultural connection.