Reconciliation Action Plan News

Relationships Around the School - Reconciliation Projects 

An important Goal in our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is to collaborate with members of the College community and Tasmanian Aboriginal communities to design and implement projects and programmes that authentically promote reconciliation.

As part of this Action we have been working with young palawa scientist Jamie Graham Blair on a special project that will visibly and authentically embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures into our learning programs and the physical environment upon which the Austins Ferry campus sits. The Tunapri Makuminya Project begins with an overview of the history and story of lutriwita/Tasmania and the muwinina people, the original custodians of nipaluna/Hobart. It then goes on to provide suggestions for physical and digital signage about the forest, grassland and coastal landscapes that surround our College, including an extensive botanical survey of culturally significant plants and their uses. The final part of the Project considers the conservation and regeneration needs of the surrounding environments, the development of specific cultural learning areas and strategies for community access and participation.

Last Thursday evening the first Deliverable in this Action was realised, with Jamie presenting the Tunapri Makuminya Project to our RAP Working Group for discussion and feedback. The Working Group will now be able to begin planning the various ways in which this incredible project can start to be implemented and shared.

Through this Action, Goal and Deliverable we have strengthened a culture of collaboration across the school and with the community, and re- committed to creating an environment where young people, staff and community members acknowledge, respect and experience connection to the First Australians.