NASCA - Culture, Education, Community

Bridging the gap between regional community and higher education! 🎓

Last week the Indigenous Recruitment Team from the University of Sydney, Coby, Tianna, Aaron and Derrelle, travelled to Kempsey to deliver Part 2 of their Strengthening the Partnerships in Community session with our senior NASCA and Clontarf students from Melville High School and Kempsey High School.

The team spoke with students about university applications, UAC submissions, accommodation options and scholarships, helping to make the pathway to university feel more accessible and achievable for our young people.

These kinds of partnerships are incredibly valuable for our regional communities, and we are grateful to the University of Sydney team for making the trip to Kempsey to continue strengthening relationships and opportunities for our young people.

A BIG thank you as well to our staff at Kempsey High and Melville High for helping make today happen!

Wednesday afternoons at Canobolas High School have been looking a little different lately! This term, our NASCA sessions are all about the ‘She Moves’ program, where our girls get the opportunity to dive into a brand-new sport every single week.

We kicked things off with a high-energy Pickleball session. It was a massive success, with 10 of our girls hitting the court and showing off some serious talent, so much talent, in fact, that they even managed to beat our program leads!

🏏 The week after the girls swapped the paddles for mallets as the program turned its focus to Croquet. It was an afternoon filled with plenty of laughs and the development of some very technical new skills.

We absolutely love seeing the girls step outside their comfort zones each week!

"I keep re-enrolling in NASCA every year because they help me feel comfortable at school. Me and many girls wouldn’t go to school if it wasn’t for NASCA. It’s the NASCA staff being there, the in-class support, going in the NASCA room at recess and lunch, giving me a safe space to connect with my culture."

For Khloe, a Dunghutti young woman in Year 10, the NASCA room at school is where her confidence thrives. From a warm breakfast to afternoon art sessions, it is her space to wind down, connect with her identity, and realise she has the power to make a difference.

We want to keep saying "yes" to every young person who walks through our doors. But to do that, we need your help today!

👉 Please consider making a small donation before June 30 https://bit.ly/4nFNwNG

Your support ensures that students like Khloe always have a safe space to belong, lead, and stay in school ❤️ 🖤 💛

Our NASCA young women from Orara High School, Coffs Harbour recently headed out to the Coffs National Marine Science Centre for an incredible day of learning and connection.

We were honoured to be invited by the NWAC Gumbaynggirr Sea Country Rangers, and it’s safe to say the girls had the absolute maddest time exploring, learning about Sea Country, and diving into marine science. 🦈✨

This is just the beginning! This fantastic workshop is a two-part series, and the team is heading back again soon for round two. We can't wait to see what they learn next!

A massive thank you to the NWAC Rangers and the Marine Science Centre for having us! 🙌🏽🖤💛❤️

This week Dubbo College South and Delroy Campus NASCA girls have proudly kicked off their First Nations Industry Connections Program, a 10 week journey designed to strengthen confidence, build new skills, and open doors to future pathways.

Over the coming weeks the girls will connect with local industries, hear directly from role models, and learn about different study, training, and job opportunities available to them.

The program is all about empowering young women to see their strengths, understand their options and step boldly into new spaces. The students will gain valuable insights into careers they may never have considered before. There's a strong sense of excitement and pride as the girls begin this journey, one that celebrates culture, identity and the bright futures ahead!

We look forward to sharing their progress and achievements as the program continues!

🌟 EXCITING NEWS FROM COONAMBLE! 🌟

6 of our incredible NASCA girls from Coonamble High School recently stepped up and entered the Coonamble Young Woman of the Year Competition with the Coonamble Show Society.

A massive CONGRATULATIONS to Coonamble High's Vice Captain and proud NASCA student, Rihanna McBride, on winning the title! 🏆✨

To all 6 of our girls who entered: we are extremely proud of the immense effort, courage, and confidence you all showed. You are a truly great group of young women representing the Coonamble community so beautifully.

🖤💛❤️ National Sorry Day at Toormina High School 🖤💛❤️

We came together with all of our Indigenous students to observe and reflect on National Sorry Day. It was a deeply meaningful day filled with powerful storytelling, reflection, and community.

We were incredibly honoured to have Misty and Rosie join us as our special guests. Afterward, we shared a lunch together, opening up the space for really good, honest conversations about what Sorry Day truly means and our shared pathway for moving forward.

Our students also had the privilege of working with Uncle Kev Dumas to create a beautiful, symbolic Sorry Day art piece.

This powerful artwork represents:

- The river of tears and shared mourning, acknowledging the broken people

- Hope and possibilities moving forward, growing better, stronger, and wiser as a people so we can walk in unity and truth

- Connection to Country, depicting women, our beautiful coastal country, meeting places, camp sites, and all the mob in between.

Thank you to Uncle Kev, our guests, and all the students who contributed to this important day of truth-telling and healing. 🤝✨

Yesterday, we had the privilege of taking 9 of the Kempsey NASCA young women, who are a part of the Junior AECG, to the Sorry Day gathering.

It was a powerful, emotional and healing experience as we sat and listened to Elders share their stories of being part of the Stolen Generation from the uncles from Kinchela Boys Home, and the aunties from Cootamundra Girls Home and Bomaderry. It was also a privilege to listen to Mal, the grandson of Aunty Doreen from the stolen generation, play the didgeridoo.

Hearing their truth, strength, and resilience firsthand is something we will carry with us always. These stories are painful but important, and we are grateful to the Elders for sharing their journeys, as we know it is hard to relive their pain.

Days like this remind us why it’s so important to continue listening, learning and walking together in truth and healing. So proud of our girls for showing respect and pride in culture throughout the day.

Today we pause to observe National Sorry Day. We acknowledge the deep trauma, pain, and historical injustices forced upon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Most importantly, we honour the strength, resilience, and survival of the Stolen Generations.

As an organisation dedicated to supporting our young people, we know that healing is an ongoing journey, and ensuring our mob has the support, education, and cultural connection they need to thrive is a vital part of that process.

Together, we continue to walk forward, carrying the strength of our Ancestors as we support the next generation to thrive.