Year 9 Booeegigat Program Guest Speaker Thomas Mayo

On 30 May, the entire year 9 cohort gathered together in one place. They were assembled in the Wright Theatre at Melbourne University to hear from renowned author and advocate, Thomas Mayo. Our students listened attentively to Mayo describe his upbringing and early career, and his work as the Assistant National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia. They were keen for Mayo to share his experience as a signatory of the Uluru Statement from the heart in 2017 and key figure in the national Yes campaign for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in 2023. 

A key component of the Year 9 curriculum is developing students’ critical thinking, intercultural capability, ethical decision-making and civic responsibility. Students exercised these skills aptly asking thoughtful questions and engaging in robust discussions following, such as “should the voting age be lowered to 16?” 

Mayo left our students with a powerful message based on his latest book 'Always Was, Always Will Be'. He talked about hope and the future he wishes to see – a fairer Australia where there is justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. 

In the Booeegigat Program, our students study The Colonisation of Australia and Frontier Wars in Humanities. In Curiosity: Changing Identities of Australia they study citizenship and civic responsibility. In Connect: Self, Others and Community they learn ethical decision-making.