Leela Kruger is a champion of education and health for young people in Alice Springs. As a school-based engagement officer at Gillen Primary School since 2021, she is helping turn around a decline in attendance and giving youngsters more opportunities to grow.
Leela’s commitment to families from socially diverse communities – and belief that young Aboriginal people need and deserve quality education – has made her a role model. She aims to understand children’s barriers to engaging with school and to build links between the school and their families.
As a champion of Learning on Country, Leela’s calm, culturally safe approach has assisted many children to become happy school attendees.
In 2023, Leela was named the Northern Territory Young Achiever of the Year and also took home the Northern Territory Government Young Aboriginal Educator Award.
She is dedicated to her community, embracing every opportunity to learn, and strives to assist anyone she can.