First Nations News
By Claudine Rudeforth - First Nations Officer
The Smith Family IYLP National Gathering
By Peggy, Georgia, Sharnie and Lilley
In early September we went to Sydney to take part in The Smith Family IYLP National Gathering where Year 9/10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from all around Australia come together to connect with one another and our culture.
Over the four days we created new friendships with students from all around Australia including Perth, Adelaide, Alice Springs, Sydney and even Ballarat.
Some of the highlights were learning other mob’s traditions like their dances and songs and ways they connect with Country. We got to learn about the Indigenous history of Sydney Harbour and the Gadigal People. We went on a cruise around the harbour on the Tribal Warrior which was amazing as we got to see all the different views from the water.
This trip was life changing for us all and we will carry it with us for a long time. This taught me that even though we are all from Australia, we all have different backgrounds and knowledge. Peggy - Year 9
Through this experience I learnt that you get more out of experiences if you put more energy into it. Georgia - Year 10
This trip gave me a lot of experiences that I would not have had the opportunity to do if it wasn’t for the Smith Family, like learning from people all over Australia. Sharnie - Year 9
This cultural gathering has allowed me to learn new things, experience something special and create lots of great new friendships. Lilley - Year 9
Bilyana heads to Vietnam
Congratulations to Bilyana, who has been named a winner of the Premier’s Spirit of Anzac Prize 2026, and was presented with her award by Minister for Veterans, Natalie Suleyman at Parliament House.
This September, Bilyana will join 11 fellow award winners on a nine-day study tour of Vietnam, exploring Australia’s history and the service and sacrifice of our troops during the Vietnam War, visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and the villages of Hoa Long and Nui Dat.
With a strong family history of military service, this opportunity holds particular significance for Bilyana, who looks forward to learning more about Australia’s wartime history while experiencing the places where it unfolded.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I am so grateful for. I recognise my ancestors and relatives who went through the hardships of war and sacrificed their lives and families to protect future generations."
“Being able to learn about the history and conflict of war while being present in the country where they were fighting is incredibly significant and valuable to me as a young Australian Aboriginal woman.”
We are incredibly proud of Bilyana and look forward to hearing about her experiences on this life-changing trip.
First Nations Children’s Day
We were very lucky to be invited by the Ballarat City Council to participate in their National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day held on Tuesday 4 August at the beautiful Ballarat Library.
In 1988, the 4 August was chosen as the date to remember the children taken from their families who had no record of their birthdays. Since then, every year National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day celebrates children and recognises the importance of their voices as the next generation of leaders and knowledge holders and the vital role family, community and culture have in raising strong and confident children.
This year’s theme was Living our Truth and four of our Dhurrung students volunteered their time to assist Kindergarten students with activities reflecting local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and culture through storytelling, art, music, play and wildlife. Students also took part in establishing a Meadow Land at the Library by planting Murnong (Yam Daisy), an Indigenous plant of Ballarat (the symbol of the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Corporation’s logo) and the Purple Hibiscus which through its own hardiness, is the official flower of the Stolen Generations, symbolising strength, resilience and healing.
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By Evie - Year 11
I enjoyed volunteering at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day event and supporting the children as they participated in a range of activities. It was rewarding to see so many young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children engaging with their culture and enjoying the day with their families and community. I also enjoyed seeing community members come together to celebrate and support the children.
This day is important because it recognises and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, strengthens cultural identity, and provides opportunities for young people to connect with their culture, community, and traditions.
WEX Program
We would like to say a huge congratulations to Imogen - Year 11 who has been selected from a national pool of applicants to attend the WEX (Work Exposure in Government) five day program in Canberra during September. The WEX program brings Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to Canberra and offers them valuable hands on experience, information and insights into careers in the Australian Government.
Imogen will travel independently to Canberra for this exciting opportunity, which will support her goal of studying Criminology to then work as a Detective. We are so thrilled for you Imogen.
The Dhurrung Cultural Identity Poster
We created this poster to show what being part of the Dhurrung Program means to us all through the different layers. At the centre is Dhurrung, the Wadawurrung word for heart, which connects and supports us through friendship and school. The next layer is what we all feel being Aboriginal stands for. The next layer shows the diverse language groups of all the Aboriginal students and staff at Loreto which extend from country in Western Australia, Tasmania, Queensland, NSW, and Victoria.
The last layer reflects how we feel when we think about being an Aboriginal person and being part of the Dhurrung Program at Loreto…a sense of belonging and sisterhood and being valued.
