Relationship Building at the core of our First Nations Network

Last year’s Crossing New Seas Conference reignited a strong passion across our schools to be even more courageous in our support of developing deeper respect and appreciation of the First Nations people in our communities and across Australia. This work continues through our First Nations Network, and we gathered in July to share our priorities in listening deeply as we develop relationships with the First Nations people in our communities, acting courageously in supporting Truth Telling and Reconciliation, and offering meaningful opportunities where students can learn with wonder about the oldest continuing civilisation on Earth.  

Building relationship is the groups top priority, and we started our gathering with each member showing the group where their First Nations mob or connections are on the AIATSIS map (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies map). This process revealed great depth of story and connection across the whole continent and really inspired the group amidst the challenges of our work in the socio-cultural climate of Australia today.  

Amongst the group we were fortunate to have present Yorta Yorta Winyarr* Vicki Walker and Donna Walsh, proud Arrernte woman living and working on Wathaurong land Sue Collins, proud Buanditj woman Jeanette Morris, and other staff who also have First Nations ancestors and family members. We were also joined online by 2024 Brigidine College, Indooroopilly, Captain, Proud Dunghutti, Gungalu and Birri Gubba woman, Tiah Kalaja and Prof. Anne Pattell-Gray, descendant of the Bidjara/Karri Karri people of Queensland. Trustee Rosemary Copeland and staff across Kildare Ministries who support First Nations people and cultural education in our schools were also present.  

We’re very grateful for the work everyone across the ministries is doing to support our First Nations students and staff, who by being part of our communities, help us to learn more about the wisdom and understanding of the great history of this land and the culture and story of its First People. 

We have so much to be in awe of.

Jane Collopy 

Mission Leader

*Winyarr is the Yorta Yorta word for Aboriginal woman or women

**The image to the left shows art work from Vera Cooper (in the dreaming).  The women are wrapped in possum skin cloaks with their stories contained in the cloaks themselves.