STUDENTS SET FUTURE GOALS

THEY’RE ambitious, optimistic and believe there’s still time to close the gap on indigenous health.

Ignatius Park College students McKenzie Baker and Garrett Saylor have set high goals for their futures.

At only 16, indigenous student McKenzie has proven his worth on the football field, having signed a contract with the Sydney Roosters.

Garrett, who is also 16, is in Year 11 and is striving towards studying arts and film at university.

While the pair are privy to learning about the systemic health issues that affect their people, they admit it’s a work in progress.

Each year, around National Close The Gap Day, Ignatius Park College conducts its own campaign.

Students listen to discussions about how health affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with the boys wearing a special symbol on their shirts.

McKenzie, who is in Year 12 and plays for the Blackhawks, said indigenous health was not something he worried about unless he saw it. TWO BRIGHT YOUNG MEN SEE SENSE IN BRINGING TO LIGHT THE MEDICAL PLIGHT OF SOME INDIGENOUS FAMILIES BY

“When it’s right in front of you, you think about it,” he said. “But when it’s not, you don’t.”

McKenzie, who wants to study education and become a teacher after finishing school, said indigenous health was a work in progress.

“You can fix it, it’s not unfixable,” he said. “I think someone needs to take initiative and bring it forward.”

McKenzie said while he did not personally know of any families that were affected by health issues, he was not surprised to hear that many families struggled with serious lifestyle and health problems.

Garrett, who was born in Kununurra before living in Torres Strait and then moving to Townsville, said it was important to shed light on indigenous health.

“Bringing light to it when you’re young ( is important) so that you can have enough time to do something about it,” he said.

Principal Andrew Kirkpatrick said the school conducted excursions to indigenous communities, including Palm Island, throughout the year to teach the students about the issues.

“This is to open their eyes and try and break down some of those stereotypes,” he said. “All of the boys would have a bit of an understanding I suppose ( indigenous health) but how much I don’t know.”

Mr Kirkpatrick said after each trip the school made to Palm Island, the students always commented on how much they enjoyed it.

“Every year I sit on the boat coming back and they say ‘ it was better than I thought it would be’,” he said. “It’s awareness and education of the culture. It’s a terrific experience and really opens their eyes.”

Mr Kirkpatrick said that while he believed the health “gap” between indigenous and non- indigenous people would always exist, it would reduce over time.

“We get them ( students) making smart decisions,” he said. “That’s what we can do from our point of view. We just try to get our boys through and if we can get through to half of them, then that’s great.”