New Indigenous school opens in Adelaide

A school for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students has opened in Adelaide, complete with yarning and digital art spaces.

Established in the 1980s by two Aunties, Veronica Brodie and Leila Rankine, Warriappendi Secondary School was forced to relocate from its original home which was demolished to make way for a road.

The new school, which can accommodate up to 150 students, has areas for cultural learning, wellbeing, drama and music, as well as STEM laboratories, a library, a commercial kitchen, visual and digital arts spaces, a 900 square-metre gymnasium and an oval.

“It’s really important that Warriappendi School retained its cultural identity, with the move providing a number of opportunities for students to be involved in the design of the new school,” South Australian Education Minister Blair Boyer said.

“This means the school will be able to keep attracting Aboriginal students from right across Adelaide who are looking for a strong sense of belonging and a positive cultural learning environment.

The school was designed by JPE Design Studio and built by BADGE Constructions, at a cost of about $25 million.

Principal Craig Bailey said the school would stay true to the vision of its original founders.

“We are still family, still intimate, still connected to culture, and we have retained our identity,” he said.

“The opportunity now exists for the community and its students to thrive in a contemporary and dynamic environment where learning is the focus.

“Aunty Veronica and Leila Rankine, our other founder, would be so proud – look at how the inspiration for a school and passion for education has transformed into 7 Ann Nelson Drive, Thebarton, Warriapendi Secondary School.”