DRIVE five hours southwest of Alice Springs and you come to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara, better known as the APY Lands. 

It's a remote and beautiful corner of Australia - a pure red earth dotted with brilliant green and yellow. But it masks an alarming statistic.

 

Nationwide, almost three quarters of non-indigenous children around the country finish year 12. The figure for indigenous high school graduates is far lower. Just 38 per cent, according to the 2011 census.

 

But here in the APY Lands, no data exists to even create a percentage. 

Nobody has ever completed their senior school education here.

 

In partnership with the Adelaide Football Club, AFL legend Andrew McLeod and his wife Rachael are playing vital roles in changing that.

 

The Crows and McLeod have implemented a series of programs that aim to help the state's children finish school and become active members of their communities.

 

Adelaide has had a presence in the region for the past six years, in which time it has invested more than $700,000 into various programs – including McLeod's.

 

The Andrew McLeod Challenge, Aboriginal Youth Leadership and Governance Program and the Future Leaders Program are unique in that they focus on continued mentoring of participants from remote and regional areas of South Australia.

 

Star student Mark Campbell has progressed through the programs and is close to securing his SACE certificate, set to become the first person in history to finish year 12 based purely in the Lands.

 

The quick-witted 19-year-old is a maverick and, importantly, hopes to one day become a leader in his APY Lands community of Mimili.

 

"First one to finish on the Lands… everyone is proud of me," Campbell said of his schooling.

 

"It was a lot of hard work, you know, a lot of pressure and a lot of sacrifices I had to make.

 

"I want to work up in Yulara (south-western Northern Territory) for a few years as a landscaper and probably then come back to Mimili, maybe run the community – you know? Maybe I'll go for the chairman of the community?"

 

His dream is music to McLeod's ears.

 

Speaking exclusively to AFL.com.au while on camp in the APY Lands, the former Adelaide superstar said nurturing such drive was one of the most important aspects of his education programs.

 

"Our vision for this was to work with the schools and help with the education side of things to give these kids some opportunities," McLeod said.

 

"Having these guys realise that they have the potential to become the next leaders is unbelievable.

 

"Mark is one of these guys, he's a very articulate young man and he's driven – he knows what he wants to do and where he wants to be.

 

"For him to say that he wants to be a leader is fantastic.

 

"Some of the others like 'Matty' and Kupa Whiskey (brothers also involved in the programs) are a part of that too, they know that people look up to them even at this age.

 

"It's important that they carry themselves in the right way, we just hope that we're able to help massage that and give them some skills and tools to make themselves the best that they can be."

 

McLeod's association with the likes of Campbell and the Whiskey brothers, Kupa and Matthew, doesn't end once they've graduated.

 

Keeping them involved in the programs will prove crucial, he said.

 

The hope is that as the programs' participants go on to achieve and become respected members of the community, the next crop will look to emulate them.

 

He hopes it can create a cycle of ambition.

 

"They can tell their stories about their experiences in the program and talk to other kids in the community about it," McLeod said.

 

"They become leaders, talking to other kids about what the program's about, pushing them to get involved.

 

"Obviously it's not going to be all smooth sailing, but you've just got to keep pushing."

 

Twitter: @AFL_Harry