First Nations Report 

Wow! What a fabulous start to Term 3 with our NAIDOC Week celebrations in full swing! 

Throughout the week, students engaged in a range of activities during home group classes, embracing the 2025 NAIDOC theme and deepening their understanding of First Nations culture and history. Our First Nations students had a particularly massive week of celebrations—and they certainly made us proud! 

One of the highlights was the beautiful morning tea they hosted for all staff, their families, and special guests from BADAC. The event was a huge success, filled with warmth, connection, and community spirit. Our mob worked hard to prepare and present the morning tea, and their efforts truly reflected the pride they have in their culture and their school. They did themselves and Woodmans Hill Secondary College proud. 

We were also lucky to welcome Indigo and Emily from the Ballarat Art Gallery, who ran an engaging and hands-on session with our First Nations students. The activities focused on cultural history and connection to local Country, and included a special opportunity to paint with ochre. 

The students loved getting creative, and the artwork they produced was thoughtful and expressive and some of their beautiful pieces can be seen in the photos below. 

I’d like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Pauline and the team at the Ballarat Art Gallery for their ongoing support throughout the year. Their commitment to us here at Woodmans Hill Secondary College is appreciated and we are so grateful for the partnership. 

To finish off an incredible week of NAIDOC celebrations, we were honoured to welcome Peter Shane Rotumah, a proud Gunitjmara man from BADAC, who conducted a Smoking Ceremony for our entire school community and special guests. 

This was a deeply cultural and moving experience for all involved, made even more special as it marked the first time we’ve used our new Yarning Circle. The setting added to the power and significance of the moment, providing a space of reflection, connection, and respect. 

We are so grateful to Peter and BADAC for helping us celebrate and honour First Nations culture in such a meaningful way. It was the perfect way to close out a week of learning, pride, and unity. What a powerful way to begin the term