Partner 1

Australia – Teacher retention for youth mental health in remote communities: The Kowie Card

In 2025 Reach Alliance students from the University of Melbourne explored a community orientation program for teachers in Kowanyama, a remote Aboriginal community in Far North Queensland (FNQ). Developed by Youth Empowered Towards Independence (YETI), the program helps new teachers understand local history, cultures and values through community-led activities, which are recorded in passport-like ‘Kowie Cards’.

The Kowie Card program aims to improve teacher retention, student well-being, and community trust at Kowanyama State School. It also opens economic opportunities aligned with community aspirations, including pathways for small business development. The study explored how these pathways can be strengthened and expanded to support sustainable, inclusive, community-driven growth.