In a significant boost for disability education in the Top End, six Northern Territory students are set to gain vital life skills after their advocacy group won a major $20,000 grant. The Down Syndrome Association of the Northern Territory (DSANT) will use the CommBank Community Grant to send the students and four staff members to a groundbreaking conference in Geelong, Victoria.
Funding Opens Doors to Independence
The $20,000 grant was awarded in January 2026 and will directly fund the trip for participants of DSANT's innovative Project 21 program. The conference is run by VALID, Victoria's peak advocacy body for adults with intellectual disability, and is renowned for its focus on empowerment and skill-building.
Rachel Kroes, Executive Officer of DSANT and mother to an adult daughter with Down syndrome, championed the initiative. She explained that the core ambition is to prepare young people for independent adult life. "Our guys have 47 chromosomes, whereas you and I have 46. It's what we call a little bit extra," Ms Kroes said. "But once you get past all that, our guys can learn, they can engage, they can communicate and they can contribute."
Project 21: Building Pathways After School
Ms Kroes designed Project 21 to address the limited educational opportunities for young adults with Down syndrome after they finish Year 12. The program, run in partnership with Charles Darwin University, breaks down life skills into manageable components across subjects like media, graphics, wellbeing, music, and social learning.
"When I designed Project 21, I knew that these young people could be educated, they needed employment skills and they needed independence," Ms Kroes stated. The program name itself is meaningful, referencing the third copy of chromosome 21 which is characteristic of Down syndrome.
A Community Investment in Brighter Futures
Nathan Barker, Executive Manager of Community Investment at CommBank, said the bank was proud to support DSANT's work. "DSANT is doing amazing work to make a real difference and our grants are designed to make sure that impact extends further," Mr Barker said. He emphasised that grassroots organisations like DSANT identify critical needs and provide deep care for their communities.
The CommBank Community Grants program is delivered through the CommBank Staff Foundation, where employees nominate meaningful organisations and the bank matches their donations. Since 1917, this employee-led initiative has supported a wide variety of Australian community projects.
For the six students from the Territory, this grant is more than just funding; it's a gateway to new horizons. "Through the generous grant from CommBank, this is a very special opportunity for these young people to see the opportunities ahead for them," Ms Kroes concluded.
