Children’s Ground is an evidenced-based approach, designed with First Nations leaders to achieve radical reform. It is an educational model that would prove adaptable far beyond central Australia and its indigenous clients, especially so in these environmentally fraught times. 'It literally starts on the ground,' says Rod. 'By that I mean the focus is on plant and animal life that are dependant on specific seasonal events and locations. This is how meaning is made, how all of us make sense of where we are; a grounding in place.'

 

Arrernte drive this program with non-indigenous support. It could not be otherwise as only the elders have the local knowledge. Given Alice Springs demographic shows an increasing proportion of indigenous children, Rod explains that he, 'Only hopes Ampe-Kenhe Ahelhe’s 25 year vision can further deepen and stretch its roots and add confidence to developing youngsters. The elders guiding the program have been the beneficiaries of the catholic education system they received at Santa Teresa prior to welfare. The need to pass on cultural knowledge is balanced with mainstream literacy and numeracy required to handle the wage economy. Hopefully this two way learning might inspire incentives to be free of the welfare dependency that has left a generation with little motivation or need to work for wages. This is a positive response to the erosion of their society as I’ve observed it. The tide of handouts, given with kindness in mind, has led young people and children in particular, into a meaningless life, riddled by sickness, disease, poverty, illiteracy, inadequacy, disempowerment; a sterile life that consequentially leads them into anti-social attitudes, addictive behavioural patterns, hopelessness, welfare dependence and what can only be called subsidised crime.’

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Rod has observed first hand the engagement with both traditional culture, country, and 'white' literacy that Children's Ground generate.