As federal and state governments grapple with persistent challenges in boosting school attendance and performance—particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children—the Malpa Project stands as a proven beacon of success. For 15 years, this innovative, culturally grounded program has empowered more than 4,500 senior primary students (ages 9-12) in disadvantaged communities across Australia, delivering transformative results with almost no public funding.
In communities where absenteeism once entrenched cycles of disadvantage, Malpa's "Young Doctors for Life" initiative has elevated average school attendance to an extraordinary 94.5%—a staggering 34.5% increase from baseline levels on days when Malpa runs. Drawing on ancient Aboriginal traditions of training young healers, the program equips children to become community health influencers, fostering leadership, cultural pride, and lifelong well-being. Participants not only surge in attendance but also emerge as confident community influencers, sharing knowledge with families and peers.
"The Young Doctors come to school because what we offer is relevant and enjoyable" according to Indigenous CEO Tracey Thompson.
Beyond attendance, Malpa's impact ripples through schools and homes:
- Heightened Engagement: Children report deeper connections to learning, with 100% sharing new health insights with others and gaining profound appreciation for Aboriginal culture.
- Safer Classrooms: Zero incidents of classroom violence, eliminating the need for costly one-on-one support aides.
- Empowered Educators: Teachers experience renewed motivation, supported by students who actively contribute to positive school environments.
- Community Health Leaders: Graduates influence family health practices, addressing critical issues like otitis media—the world's highest rates among Indigenous children—while building resilience against broader social challenges.
- Career pathways: The Young Doctors are inspired by working with a wide range of health specialists including doctors, nurses, surgeons, bio-mechanical engineers, paramedics, nutritionists and more.
Yet, despite these outcomes—validated by partnerships with the Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association, the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, and the Australasian Society of Lifestyle Medicine—Malpa receives virtually no government funding. As one respected Elder observed, "It seems that the plan is not to have a plan." This oversight persists even as national data reveals stark disparities: In 2021, only 61.4% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 4-14 attended primary school regularly, far below non-Indigenous rates, with millions of school days lost annually to unexplained absences.
"Malpa isn't just a program—it's a revival of time-tested wisdom that works in the 21st century," according to Ms Thompson. "We've proven that empowering kids as 'Young Doctors' can shatter barriers to education and health. Governments talk about Closing the Gap; we're bridging it, one community at a time. What's not to like? We invite leaders to join us and scale this success nationwide."
The Malpa Project, founded in 2010, operates in remote, rural and urban settings, from Dubbo to the Northern Rivers and across to Ashburton in WA, with attendance spikes as high as 99% in some sites. Early participants often enter with literacy levels 2-4 years below national averages, yet graduate with boosted confidence, academic gains, and a sense of purpose.
