Yipirinya School was founded in 1978 by Aboriginal Elders of the Alice Springs Town Camps. Their aim was to provide education that incorporated both Aboriginal and Western teachings, fostering a safe and inclusive learning environment for all Aboriginal children.
For almost 45 years, the School has been a place for Aboriginal children to access two-way learning, maintaining their connection to their language and culture, and aiming to remove the barriers they may face to accessing an education.
Yipirinya School students are from town camps, outstations and remote communities of the Alice Springs area. Many live in lower standard housing in over-crowded environments, which can often lead to a myriad of health disadvantages. Their living conditions and home life can often create difficulties accessing education, and Yipirinya School prioritises addressing these barriers.
Our students are collected from their homes and dropped back each day, and breakfast, lunch, morning and afternoon tea, are provided as part of the school’s nutrition program. The Sunset School program was created to offer daily after school activities to engage students, allowing them to build connections with others and explore new skills and pathways.
Your impact can change the trajectory for Yipirinya School students and help lead to opportunities that support a positive and fulfilling future.
Read more about some of the positive outcomes of bilingual Aboriginal education and an insight into the lives of some of our students.
Today Yipirinya School employs 110 staff, 65% of whom are Aboriginal and all who aim to continue the work of the school’s founding members, keeping language, culture and connection at the core of everything they do.
From everyone at Yipirinya School, we thank you for your support.
Please contact if you have any questions regarding donating to our school.
The school is registered as an independent non-government school and is governed by a School Council.
We acknowledge and pay respect to the founders of Yipirinya School and the important work that they, and those who have followed them, have done in keeping language and culture strong since 1978.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices, names and artwork of deceased people.