The 18-year-old Aboriginal student continued to attend Leigh Creek Area School, despite some of her peers and teachers remaining at home during the height of COVID-19.

Georgia studied Stage 2 subjects including Essential English, Integrated Learning, Australian Languages – Revival Language (Adnyamathanha), as well completing a Certificate III in Fitness, and a Certificate III in Sport and Recreation. 

She also participated in the South Australian Aboriginal Sports Training Academy (SAASTA).

“I went to school while a lot of the community were in lockdown, and there were only three of us Year 12 students physically at school,” Georgia said.

“Because there weren’t many of us at school, I got to have one-to-one learning with teachers, which helped me get through this year.

“We had to learn how to learn online using programs that we have never used before such as Microsoft Teams. The internet in Leigh Creek doesn’t work as well and it was a challenge and tough at times. We also had to adapt to the social distancing of COVID-19.”

Georgia said she particularly enjoyed studying Stage 2 Australian Languages – Revival Language, which was taught for the first time in 2020.

“I learned about my own culture and going on the land, working with Elders and ensuring the continuation of my language. This is especially important to me to keep the Adnyamathanha culture alive,” Georgia said. 

Georgia hopes to go to university to study Nursing.

Daniel McGuire, deputy principal of Leigh Creek Area School, said: “Georgia has worked exceptionally hard to ensure she finishes her SACE, despite the events of the world around her. 

“She has maintained her connection with teachers and other students in what has been unconventional ways, but is now our new normal. Despite what other students were doing around her, she maintained her focus on completing her studies and has done an exceptional job at it too.”