Carnival time at Nova Peris Girls Academy

SYDNEY – July 5, 2013: Kia Motors Australia has come to the aid of dual-Olympian Nova Peris, providing a mobility solution to a new Indigenous program which allows girls from remote communities to participate in a unique education experience.

The Darwin-Based Nova Peris Girls Academy (NPGA) is funded jointly by the Commonwealth, corporate Australia and Catholic Education and has been operating out of the St John’s College campus for the past 18 months.

Aboriginal girls from Queensland’s Western Cape, the Northern Territory and the Kimberleys are encouraged to apply for the 80 places available in the junior and senior programs. Central to the Academy’s success is a focus on behaviour, attendance and being able to retain the girls in the program.

St John’s College has two buses, a 14- and a 25-seater, but as the Academy founder _ a former Young Australian of the Year and Olympic gold medallist _ explained there was always the need for some extra mobility options for the 500 students at St John’s.

“We approached Kia Motors with our predicament and to our delight they have provided us with two top of the range Kia Grand Carnivals,” Ms Peris said. These eight seaters have provided the program with mobility and independence, allowing us to book more excursions and to transport more girls to sport training and matches.

“Being top of the range, the Carnivals have every bell and whistle known to man. It’s been quite amusing watching the reactions of some of the girls from the more remote communities. They freak out at being able to open a door with the push of a button, as well as being able to watch a movie in the back seats of one of the cars fitted with a DVD player (limited edition model).”

Ms Peris said it was particularly appropriate that the Grand Carnivals had a reversing camera. “A great idea in a car that is always around children.”

Kia Motors Australia Chief Operating Officer, Tony Barlow, said the supply of the Grand Carnivals was a welcome addition to Kia’s expansive Corporate Social Responsibility program.

“Nova has been a shining example to Australians of all backgrounds, both through her sporting triumphs and her work in the social justice and education fields,” Mr Barlow said. “That we at Kia are able to assist her work in some small way is an absolute pleasure.”

The two Grand Carnival Platinums are powered by Kia’s latest high-tech 3.5-litre petrol engine, which is matched to a light-weight and highly efficient, six-speed automatic transmission.

The six-speaker sound system is MP3 compatible, has AUX and USB input, six CD changer and iPod connectivity. All late model Kia vehicles come standard with Bluetooth.

Being primarily a family vehicle, there is no compromise on safety with electronic stability control, ABS and six SRS airbags including driver, passenger, front, side and curtain airbags, standard across the entire Carnival range.

Tri zone, climate control air conditioning with front and rear controls, allows the NPGA girls to stay nice a cool during those long trips on tropical days.