Yalata Anangu School has held an all-women's school camp, enlisting elders to help the school with challenging topics around consent and sexual health.
The school travelled from the remote community on South Australia's west coast to Port Lincoln, where the community's strong matriarchs helped explain what healthy relationships looked like.
The elders passed down traditional bush medicine recipes, and practised painting and woodwork with the women — activities that enabled more open conversations around the campfire.
'Something has to happen'
Yalata leader Mima Smart said conversations around consent and domestic violence were important.
"Looking at the women's faces, changes in their faces, that something has to happen all over Australia, in remote communities in towns and cities," Ms Smart said.
"The sad part is we're losing a lot for our young people through domestic violence (and) we want to stop this."
"We need to stand up now and widely open our eyes, ears and hearts and work through this big problem that is happening to our people, in all remote communities and in this world around Australia."
Relaying knowledge back to community
Young women Lateesha and Nadine said not many women in their community knew about consent and the messages they were learning at school.
"It's best for us to go back to the community now and tell them," they said.
Senior secondary teacher Erin Keeley said the school recognised the strong bonds built on trust between the students and senior community leaders.
"We thought it's a place of neutral ground to have dedicated time to have challenging conversations in a very safe and welcoming environment, we've had some really genuine and authentic conversations.
"We've got three or four generations here, aunties, nanas, everyone coming together.
"They've all got so much experience, they're just a wealth of knowledge."
Mima Smart said she encouraged government departments to visit remote communities to understand each of their individual needs when it comes to support services.
"Government and ministers and all the departments that are working on Aboriginal associations need to help, not to sit in offices and do what they think they know the community wants," she said.
"They need to get out of their office come out to the community and consult with the community people, talk to them, (find out) what's the needs of the community.
"I'm so proud of this camp and I'd like to see other women come on board."
