Bro Speak

During Term 3 Kempsey High School implemented the Bro Speak program, the program consisted of a group of Aboriginal male students who were selected to listen and learn from Aboriginal men, teachers and each other. The Bro Speak program's main goal was to get the students to take pride in what they do at school and in the wider community.

Throughout the program the students learnt how to be strong in their Aboriginal identity, know about their culture and to get the students to believe in themselves and have the confidence to reach their goals. Through the program the students created their own high expectations for themselves and learnt how to be mentors and leaders to younger Aboriginal boys in their school and community. This program is now structured and focused on ensuring each week the boys spend time learning more of their language, dance and songs, making cultural instruments, tools and gaining a greater understanding of cultural practices, customs and spirituality. We have also been able to go onto country and look at sacred and significant Dunghutti sites. Hopefully with bus availability this can be increased next year. 

The program has been opened up to non-indigenous students, that I could see had an interest and who's friends are Indigenous; Tyrell Howe and Corey Peterson being the two boys. Moving forward, increasing non-indigenous student participation would be awesome.

Bro speak has also been an opportunity for the boys to develop leadership qualities, with many of them telling their peers the expectations to come into this program and also if their behaviour hasn’t been good, they need to go back to class (haha…) and they aren’t ready to go on country.

Uncle Fred, Reece (local mentor) and Nathan Betcher have done an amazing job of instilling the core values of respect, listening and patience within this program. In closing, last week I managed to sit in for part of the last period and Reece led the boys through a guided meditation outside, with 15-20 boys. I wasn’t too sure how it would go, especially as Travis Bar and Amari decided to sit in for the first time. Surprisingly the meditation was silent for 10 minutes even with those two boys watching on. It was an awesome experience to be a part of. Hopefully this program can continue on into the future. 

Kind Regards,

Mark Takuira