Wellbeing

We would like to acknowledge The Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the land Doncaster Secondary School resides on. We pay our respects to their elders past, present and emerging, and acknowledge any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are involved with Doncaster Secondary College community.

Reconciliation Week

Wominjeka! This past week has welcomed the Indigenous and non-Indigenous students at Doncaster Secondary College to reflect upon Reconciliation Week which was between the 27th of May and the 3rd of June. At the heart of reconciliation is the relationship between the broader Doncaster community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. To foster positive race relations, our relationship must be grounded in a foundation of truth. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have long called for a comprehensive process of truth-telling about Australia’s colonial history. In order to understand, value and respect each other on a whole school level, students must begin to understand the historic displacement and disenfranchisement of First Nation people and the lasting impact.

On the 24th of May, members of the college community were invited to attend the launch of the annual Reconciliation Week Exhibition, an exhibition that showcases the unique voices of contemporary Indigenous artists.  The artists expressed their truths in different forms. They made reference to the Warrigal Creek Massacre and created pieces that responded to current policies. 

Doncaster Secondary College recognises Australia’s contemporary and historical wrongdoing to Indigenous people and is proud to educate our First Nation students who bring with them a rich cultural history to the school. The school invites all of its students to have an engaging and challenging conversation with staff and other students, perhaps unlearning and relearning what you know, as this journey requires all of us to walk together with courage and understanding. Reconciliation Week encourages members of the community to challenge stereotypes, misconceptions and mistruths and is about facilitating trust, respect and positive relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

Reilly Connell

DSC Wellbeing Team 

Explaining the tree of truth

To complement this year’s NRW theme, Grounded in Truth: Walk together with Courage,

the 2019 NRW poster is designed around a central “tree of truth” image. The tree of truth emerges when the seeds of empathy, solidarity and love are sown. It represents the reconciled community we can become if we’re able to honestly and holistically acknowledge our shared history, learn from it, and move forward together.

 Reconciliation Australia 2019, Your guide for #NRW2019 and beyond! viewed 27 May 2019, <https://www.reconciliation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/ra-nrw-2019-guide_v8.pdf>