F.I.R.E Carrier Program
F.I.R.E. Carrier Program
The aim of the FIRE (Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education) Carrier Project is to promote respect, fairness and inclusion for Aboriginal people. The FIRE Carrier Project promotes, enculturation and reconciliation in schools. The FIRE Carrier project Covenant is like a Reconciliation Action Plan.
To be a FIRE Carrier is to exercise an important leadership role in the school community. FIRE carriers are students and teachers that share a passion for learning about Aboriginal culture and history and are committed to sharing this knowledge and promoting reconciliation within and beyond the school community. Let's meet St John's 2021 FIRE Carrier student Leaders:
Connor Crawley
Hello, my name is Connor and I turn 11 this year. I'm proud and honoured to be F.I.R.E. Carrier this year. I wanted to be a FIRE Carrier so I could express my interest in educating others about aboriginals and their indigenous culture. I'm excited to share and learn knowledge with my peers throughout this year.
Mia Moran
Greetings, my name is Mia. I am in Year 5 and a FIRE Carrier. By the end of this year I want to be able to spread more word about the FIRE Carrier program and teach more people about the Aboriginal history and culture. I also want to be able to be a kind leader to all students.
Riley Richards
Hi my name is Riley. The reason I wanted to become a Fire Carrier this year is to share the stories of the first owners of the land and to respect them and how they are the most important people on the land of Australia. I also what to spread awareness on why they used to be disrespected and how we can change this.
Harry Willis
Hi, I'm Harry. I wanted to be a FIRE Carrier to represent Aboriginal people and make sure that their voices are heard. I am very proud to wear the badge. I look forward to leading many activities for the students.
Monica Vincitorio
Hi, my name is Monica and I am 10 years old, turning 11 this year. The reason why I wanted to be a Fire Carrier is to be a role-model. I think it would be good to tell others about the Aboriginal culture and history.
Reconciliation Week 27 May - 3 June
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
The dates for NRW are the same each year; 27 May to 3 June.
These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.
27 May 1967
On this day, Australia’s most successful referendum saw more than 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the Census.
3 June 1992
On this day, the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, the culmination of Eddie Koiki Mabo’s challenge to the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one) and leading to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands. This decision paved the way for Native Title.
Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year's theme for Reconciliation Week is 'More than a word: Reconciliation Takes Action.' Our F.I.R.E. Carriers will be leading several activities throughout the week and look forward to sharing these with you in the next newsletter.