Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education News
Warraymaylaya Year 10 -12 Culture & Career Pathway Retreat
Warramaylaya 2026 was held in Glebe, Sydney, celebrating our theme, “Hope-Filled Future,” through a range of career pathway and leadership opportunities.
Students from O’Connor Catholic College, McCarthy Catholic College, Holy Trinity, St Mary’s College, and St Philomena’s participated in three days of career-focused and team-building activities. Highlights included a visit to the Jumbunna Indigenous Education Unit at the University of Technology Sydney, where students engaged in interactive, hands-on learning experiences and advice sessions on university pathway options. This was followed by a ferry ride the next day across the harbour to attend a session with the Taronga Zoo Institute of Science and Education Career Pathways Program. Here the staff showcased the diverse career opportunities available at both Sydney and Dubbo campuses and provided guidance on application pathways, as well as a sneaky cuddle with some zoo favourites.
Students toured Shark Park and heard from Cronulla Sharks player and former McCarthy Catholic College student Jada Taylor, who shared her experiences of leadership, resilience, and overcoming challenges.
Other memorable experiences included the Harbour Bridge Climb, featuring a beautiful Welcome and Smoking Ceremony by Aunty Margaret Campbell, visits to the Catholic Schools NSW Office and St Mary’s Cathedral, and the Sistine Chapel Exhibition.
A sincere thank you to the students, who demonstrated exceptional maturity and respect throughout the week, and to the staff who generously gave their time away from their families to support this valuable experience.
Reconciliation Week
May 27th - 3rd June is National Reconciliation Week.
The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2026 is All In, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day.
All In makes clear that reconciliation is not a spectator sport and that all of us must step away from the sidelines and take action to make change.
https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/
Schools are also encouraged to register to participate in a national choir. The Voices for Reconciliation 2026 song is Midnight Oil classic Beds Are Burning.
Visit the Choirs page for more information and to register your group.
CDA Across the Diocese
We are excited to continue to highlight the journey of work of the Coolabah Dynamic Assessment (CDA) Team.
The team has completed the ‘Intervention Process’ phase with many of Year 3 students across our Armidale Catholic Schools. Celebrating the students in the following schools (it was a ‘Joseph’ kind of fortnight!) who participated in the ‘Thinking Skills’ program along with the CDA:
St Joseph’s, Glen Innes
St Joseph’s, Tamworth
St Joseph’s, Uralla
St Xavier’s, Gunnedah
Wii Gaay Learning Hub #1 approaching
Our first Learning Hub for the year is fast approaching! Thirty-one eager students and twenty enthusiastic staff members heading to Bonville, Coffs Harbour, to become ‘Authors in Residence’.
Our 'Clever Children' will continue their work on a year-long project, '50 Pages of Deadly', exploring this year’s NAIDOC theme ‘50 Years of Deadly’. We will be departing on Monday, 15th June, and returning on Friday, 19th June, with 3 packed days of learning and On-Country experiences.
Reconciliation Week “All In”
Reconciliation Week was celebrated across the Diocese during Week 6. All schools demonstrated a deep level of respect for the theme “All In” through meaningful assemblies, liturgies and reflection, as well as hands-on activities for all students and staff. Students contributed to a commemorative Native Bush Hibiscus flower display at McCarthy Catholic College, sharing words and messages connected to remembrance.
Healing, respect, and reflection in acknowledgement of the Stolen Generation was highlighted by a beautiful assembly at St Edwards Primary, in addition to sharing culture in fun and creative ways where students participated in Reconciliation Jenga, connecting important Reconciliation terms with symbols and meanings and Reconciliation Week Bingo. While at the infants, students’ made hibiscus flowers and hearts for Sorry Day and a sea of hands for Reconciliation week, discussing how they can make reconciliation a part of their lives each and every day.
