Cultural News

Newsletter Indigenous Education

Term 3 Week 8

Shifting Sands Immersion Tour

Last week, Ms Mulraney participated in the Shifting Sands Immersion Tour. Here are her reflections upon her return to school:

Recently, I had the privilege of participating in the Shifting Sands Cultural Immersion Tour, a five-day journey across Country through the Loddon Mallee and Murray regions with 13 representatives from schools across the Sandhurst Diocese. The tour was led by CESL staff Michael Chisolm, Aboriginal Education Lead, and Chrissie James-Atkinson, Aboriginal Education Officer. Their knowledge, guidance and deep respect for Aboriginal culture, history and connection to Country helped make the experience both meaningful and transformative.

Our immersion was shaped around Country, story, relationship, prayer and reflection. It was an invitation to slow down, listen deeply and allow Country and community to teach us. Our journey began in Shepparton and took us through Boort, Nyah, Sea Lake, Mildura, Balranald and Swan Hill. While we were unfortunately unable to visit Lake Mungo, one of the most culturally significant places on our itinerary, due to heavy rain, we were still fortunate to experience many other places of cultural significance, view incredible displays of Aboriginal artefacts and, most importantly, meet and listen to some truly inspirational Elders and community members.

What made this experience particularly powerful was the opportunity to learn through story, connection and being on Country. It deepened my understanding of Aboriginal histories, cultures and spirituality and challenged me to think about how we can move beyond symbolic recognition towards relational, sustained and accountable practices in our own lives and communities.

As a teacher, the experience has strengthened my confidence in embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into our classroom learning in ways that are respectful, authentic and accurate. It has reinforced for me that this work is not simply about adding Aboriginal perspectives to what we already teach, but about listening to Aboriginal voices, building genuine relationships and creating opportunities for our students to develop a deeper understanding and respect for Country, culture and community.

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have walked, listened, reflected and learned on Country alongside such a wonderful group of educators. Shifting Sands was much more than a journey across the landscape; it was an invitation to see, listen and understand differently — and one that I will carry with me into my classroom and beyond.

Small Group Work

This term, Tahlia will be taking small groups from Year 1 and 2 to decorate a leaf that will be combined together in a framed piece of artwork. We look forward to sharing this experience at Assembly in the coming weeks.

ASHEfest

Permission notes have gone out for students to attend ASHEfest. The students need to wear full sports uniform, bring snacks, lunch and a water bottle. They will get a sausage during lunch break as well.

ASHEfest - Prep to Year 3 on Wednesday 9th September
ASHEfest - Year 4 to Year 6 on Thursday 10th September

Some Term 3 dates to look forward to –

Term 4 –

On Country excursion to Barmah with Year 5 and 6 indigenous students and our FIRE Carriers (date TBC)
Men’s Business with Neil Cooper, from Kookaburra Fly, for boys in Year 3 to 6. Dates to be confirmed.
Year 5s will learn about the role of a FIRE Carrier. Expression of interest forms will be given out to students. FIRE Carriers will be announced by the end of the term.

Ganbina - Education Scholarships

At Ganbina our annual scholarships are designed to support all Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander participants from Prep to Year 6 in Greater Shepparton.

Ganbina provide a range of support to participants including financial support for educational expenses occurred, such as school fees, school uniforms, camps/excursion/swimming, books/stationary, etc. We also provide an internal accelerated learning program for our primary school participants to help get them on track or keep them on track with their schooling.

Ganbina's Scholarship registration flyer for 2026 is below for more information -

2026 Registrations opened on January 27th.

To register for this Scholarship please either click on the link below or contact -

Project Officer - Chrystal Chapman on 0438 217 399 or email chrystal@ganbina.com.au

Ganbina Jobs4U2 Registration Form 2026

Acknowledgement of Country

At St Mary’s Primary School Mooroopna we Acknowledge the Traditional people of this land. The Yorta Yorta Nation are the Traditional Custodians of this area and we remember their elders, past, present and future. We remember that the Aboriginal people of Australia will always be the traditional owners of the land on which we gather today. We continue to grow through education and reconciliation to a better future for all Australians.