Aboriginal Education Officer's Report
Aboriginal Education Officer’s Report
What is happening in Aboriginal Education!
NAIDOC Week Celebrations
On Monday, 5th August, we held the opening ceremony for our NAIDOC Week celebrations. The event began with the Acknowledgement of Country, which was delivered by Year 8 student Ella Korach. This was followed by former WWHS Captain, Valerie Booby, who delivered a thoughtful and inspiring speech focusing on this year’s NAIDOC theme, Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud, and Proud. Students Ernest Green and Antwun Barden proudly raised the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags during the whole-school assembly.
On Tuesday, 6th August, we hosted a morning tea for our Elders in the Binaalbaa room. The room was full, with more than 20 guests, along with students and staff in attendance. Our Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer, Alex Barker, travelled from Moree to join us.
We are deeply appreciative of the large number of inspirational knowledge holders who came along and supported this memorable celebration.
Elders enjoyed the hospitality provided by our students and the opportunity to share stories of the past and acknowledge the importance of NAIDOC Week.
As the AEO, I was very proud of the great response and attendance we had. I was quite overwhelmed with the terrific support from my colleagues who helped make this special event happen. I’d also like to thank the students who assisted with the event.
On Wednesday, 7th August, the school enjoyed an afternoon of Aboriginal sports, where groups rotated through Indigenous-inspired sporting activities and games.
On Thursday, 8th August, a group of students spent time creating artwork on their own boomerang, relating to this year’s theme, Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud, and Proud! Students were able to take their boomerang home.
On Friday, 9th August, a member of our local Elders' community returned to participate in the final activity for the week: a whole-school BBQ. Thank you to our School Representative Council and their coordinator, Mrs. Sarita Mallinson, for organising and cooking the BBQ. Special thanks to Aunty Colleen Combo for attending and cutting the NAIDOC cake.
Junior Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Committee
On the 30th of August for the first time ever, a junior Aboriginal Education Consultative Group was formed with students from different year groups stepping up and volunteering their time to serve for the benefit of their fellow students. The student committee will be mentored by Mrs Bernadette Melton, chairperson of the Local AECG. The Junior AECG will meet every second Friday in the Binaalbaa room.
The Committee Includes;
- Jnr Chairperson -Ernest Green
- Vice Chair - Harmonie Ruttley
- Secretary - Zac Phillips
- Treasurer - Kristopher Went
Work Opportunities
On Thursday 22nd August we held a Year 8 and Year 10 subject selection morning for parents/carers in Binaalbaa room. This was a good opportunity for the students and their parents to learn about subject choices before selecting their subjects for next year. I’d like to thank everyone who supported this day.
In recent months, several of our students have actively been involved in the community through work experience opportunities. It’s been wonderful to see how much they have benefited from and enjoyed these opportunities.
Totem Pole Project
We held a meeting on Wednesday 28th August with Darryl Ferguson and Bernadette Melton to discuss erecting a new totem pole on the school site in 2025, Darryl will also work on creating artefacts for the Binaalbaa room. The cost of this will be met by a grant the school received.
Cultural Catch-Ups And Personal Learning Plans
This term I have initiated cultural catch-ups for our Aboriginal students to encourage them to continue working on their Term 2 cultural and learning goals while setting new ones for Term 3 and 4. These Personal Learning Plans are an important and positive aspect of our students’ cultural development. Parent’s and carer’s permission and participation is an important part of this process.
Transition To Wee Waa Public School
I was invited by Mr Wales to be involved with the incoming WWPS Year 7 girls and boys transition. We met with the students on various occasions this term to help them understand what to anticipate at high school, what our expectations are as a school and to participate in some fun cultural activities.
TARROT Appointments
This term, Wee Waa High School had three positive visits to the Binaalbaa room by the TARROT team. TARROT is a program that delivers medical practitioner outreach services to country areas in Queensland and NSW. TARROT is a Ngoaora Limited initiative. I’d like to thank our WWHS facilitators, Mrs Carmel Schwager and Mr Andrew Wales, of our Student Learning Support Team. My function as part of this program is to link with our students and their parents / carers.
National Wattle Day
Several of our students had the opportunity to attend the National Wattle Day celebration and talk at the Narrabri Shire Visitor Information Centre. The talk was excellent and included great cultural content. Students were given two young wattle trees that will be planted at the front of the school.
Boys Group
In August we commenced a Boys Group that is led by Clifford Toomey of Centa Care. 10 male students meet with Cliff every Wednesday where their sessions focus on identity. The feedback from participants is that they are really enjoying their weekly cultural meetings.
Bush Tucker 7/8 Ag Class
Every fortnight Year 7 and 8 Agriculture students attend the Wee Waa Lands Council or the Wee Waa Arts and Cultural Centre where they take part in a wide variety of cultural activities to build knowledge and understanding of our Gamillaroi history and culture.
Wee Waa Public School Acknowledgement Song
To assist Year 5 and 6 students at WWPS with their transition to high school, I have been working with a group of WWHS student mentors who have been meeting with students every fortnight to teach them the Acknowledgement song in language. This has been a really positive transition program to help build links between Year 5 and 6 students and our junior high school students.
Breakfast Club
Our Breakfast Club is every morning from 8.30am to 8.50am in the Binaalbaa room. All students are welcome to join in.