Melbourne Girls' College

National Reconciliation Week

27 May to 3 June

National Reconciliation Week 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. At Melbourne Girls’ College we acknowledge the significant milestones in the reconciliation journey - the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

 

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. To build our knowledge of creating a culturally safe school for First Nations people, all MGC teaching staff have recently attended Professional Learning with Tarina Fanning, whose extensive professional background includes working with the Department of Justice and the Victorian Police Force.

 

We will be recognising Reconciliation Week and acknowledging this year’s theme, 'Grounded in Truth, Walk Together with Courage', at MGC by a range of activities that includes:

 

  • Screening of Bran Nue Dae in the Lyceum on Monday and Wednesday lunchtimes
  • Screening of The Sapphires in 315 on Thursday and Friday lunchtimes
  • Book Swap in the Library on Wednesday – donations to The Indigenous Literacy Foundation
  • Celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music by playing videos around the school
  • The opportunity to wear an awareness ribbon
  • A display table at the Library with a collection of books about our First Nations People available to borrow.

A selection of recommended titles: 

Talking About My Country, Stan Grant, 2016

Dark Emu, Bruce Pascoe, 2014

Welcome to Country, Marcia Langton, 2019

The Little Red Yellow Black Book: An Introduction to Indigenous Australia (Fourth Edition), Bruce Pascoe, 2018

Cleared Out: First contact in the Western Desert, Yuwali and Sue Davenport, 2005

Tracker, Alexis Wright, 2017

 

 

Emma McCowan

Visual Arts Teacher

Intercultural Understandings Leader