Twenty six College staff assembled in Darwin for their four weeks induction studies during January 2008 with the first 51 students enrolled arriving to commence their College studies 5th February 2008. The difficult wet season has slowed construction on the College site. Student Group Homes for a further forty students eager to attend will be available from second term

The Tiwi College is an exciting development designed to provide quality secondary education for all Tiwi young people. The college will be owned and operated by the Tiwi people through the Tiwi Education Board representing all Tiwi families and communities.

The College is located at Pickertaramoor on Melville Island, where students will are accommodated in family group homes. The College features ‘24 hr education’ combining classroom learning with sport, life skills, outdoor education and contributions to the life of the College.

The College curriculum is preparing young people with the skills and knowledge they need to participate fully in the future of the Tiwi people. Close partnerships with training providers and island industries offer students clear pathways to careers and a secure future.

Location
Pickertaramoor is central to the major communities on the Tiwi Islands and has a proud history as
the original site for the Tiwi forestry industry. Pickertaramoor has an airstrip, water supply and road access making it an ideal place for young people to focus on their learning.

Science
The College will have a state-of-the-art science and environmental monitoring centre where students and teachers will work with CSIRO scientists to apply their learning to practical scientific projects. Students will be equipped for further training and education so they can participate in the wise management of Tiwi land and sea resources.

Forestry
The forest industry offers a wide variety of career paths including horticulture, forest management,
harvesting, transport, timber milling, joinery, carpentry and management. A Forest Industry Training Centre will involve students in the practical day to day management of the forests and provide a skilled local workforce to this vital and growing industry.

Family Group Homes
Students are accommodated during the school week in homes staffed by house parents. These
homes provide a safe and orderly environment where students learn a lot about working within a team.
Living skills are taught as a natural part of students taking responsibility for cooking, cleaning and
household maintenance.

Moral and Spiritual Development
Tiwi young people grow strong on a foundation of traditional, church and family teaching. Students
will explore answers to the big questions of life about who they are, where they belong and the purpose in their life. The College will form a strong worshipping and celebratory community consistent with their family and community traditions.

Literacy and numeracy
These areas of basic skills are a necessary foundation for all other studies. The College will utilise
Soundways and Accelerated Literacy programmes using the latest methods and technologies to help
students achieve good standards and open up a range of options for their future.

Sport
The College Football Academy is being developed in conjunction with Gerard Neesham and the Clontarf Foundation. The Academy will provide specialist training in fitness, diet and nutrition and prepare students in a wide range of sports including Australian rules, netball, basketball, cricket and
athletics. Students will have the opportunity to play locally and beyond. Schools from across
Australia will be involved as partners in cultural and sporting exchange visits.

What Facilities will the College have? • Boys Accommodation and Girls Accommodation • Homes will have comfortable living areas as well as full kitchen facilities • Football playing field • Sports and fitness centre with grandstand and Tiwi AFL memorabilia display • Tennis, Basketball and Netball courts • Retail Training Centre/Community Store • Construction Workshop/ Automotive workshop • Regional Resource Centre • Health Centre • Visual & fine arts areas • Science and environmental monitoring laboratories