Concerned by the level of enrolments, attendance and retention of Indigenous students, CSSC embarked on an extensive consultative process before implementing a support program it calls Gateways, designed as a more flexible pathway for students to achieve their NTCE. A key to the school's success has been a determination to maintain close links with parents and the Indigenous community throughout the life of the program so far.
The start of the process was parent meetings in 2005 discussing ways to combat the risk of students dropping out of the education system. In December 2005 there were meetings with DEST and teachers to finalise a program addressing the identified needs for extra student support. A further round of meetings with parents and the community was held to provide information about the planned program. Soon after the program commenced, informal meetings were held with Indigenous parents and teachers to celebrate initial student success.
