Aboriginal Student Program

What a fortnight!!

It's been a packed fortnight for the Aboriginal Program with four events to coincide with an already busy time of year. On Tuesday, 23 August Jak James and Corey Mullane from the North Metropolitan TAFE came to speak to the Aboriginal students about resume writing and other tips to further their career during and post school.

Later that day we were joined by the ladies of Mercedes Aboriginal Program to play in a mixed basketball tournament. The tournament was a great success, with students enjoying socialising and afternoon tea in the Sports Centre. I must thank Ms Isaiah McKenna for organising the event and bringing the girls down, and we are looking forward to more interactions with the Mercedes Aboriginal Program.

On Monday, 29 August- Kazeem Matsumoto, Dhungala Briggs, Emmet Hodder-Ryan, Monty Petterson and Lachie Sibosado spoke to the year 5 students about their different cultures and backgrounds. Kazeem Matsumoto spoke about Gooniyandi country, and Lachie Sibosado about Bardi and Nyikina country, in the Kimberley. Emmet Hodder-Ryan spoke about the Lardil people on Mornington Island. Dhungala Briggs spoke about the Yorta Yorta people and their connection to the Murray River. Monty Petterson spoke about Martu-Muntjiltjarra country in Wiluna. We are blessed to have a number of boys from a range of language groups throughout Australia, and the Year 5 boys were engaged and asked very inquisitive questions.

On Tuesday, 30 August, the didge and dance boys ventured out to Margaret Kindergarten in Mt Hawthorne to perform our NAIDOC dance for 60 kindy students. The kids were spellbound by the different animals in the dance and the sounds of the didgeridoo. The dancers were treated to a milo cookie on the way out and a special thankyou card with the noongar words for native animals around Perth.