Marrung Education Plan
Wominjeka!
Heathmont College acknowledges and pays respects to Elders and all Victorian Aboriginal communities. We honour and respect Traditional Owners, past and present, and value the rich culture and history of the First Peoples of this land.
A very warm welcome and/or welcome back to all our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families for 2024. We look forward to working with you and once again, providing students with opportunities such as "Deadly Tukka", "Camp Fire Conversations" and "Journey Tracks". If you are a new Indigenous student starting at Heathmont College, please get in contact with us (email shane.hunt@education.vic.gov.au or leigh.holland@education.vic.gov.au).
Heathmont College is proud to be part of the Marrung Education Plan. Marrung is a strategy to ensure that all Koorie Victorians achieve their learning aspirations. Marrung is the Wemba Wemba word for the Murray Cypress pine tree, representing branches of education and knowledge. Which is what the Marrung initative is here for. That is, to support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students to stay connected to their education and to help educate the school community about First Nation Peoples culture and histories.
Shane Hunt
Priority Cohorts and Community Engagement
Introducing the Koorie Engagement Support Officer
Dear Families,
In the Outer East, for the Department of Education (DE) the Koorie Education Workforce have a team of Koorie Engagement Support Officers (KESO), their role is to support families, early childhood services and schools to achieve the best educational outcomes for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and young people.
The Marrung Aboriginal Education Plan, a 10 Year Aboriginal Education Strategy (2016-2026), provides the following initiatives for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children:
- 15 hours of FREE kindergarten - Early Start Kindergarten (ESK)
- Individual Education Plan (IEP) for all students
- Regular Student Support Group (SSG) meetings
- Career Action Plan for all secondary school students
- Early childhood services and schools are culturally inclusive
Our team are available to attend Student Support Group Meetings (SSG) where we can discuss what is available to support your child’s/children’s education. Please contact your school or early years service for more information or to arrange a time to meet.
Below are the local Aboriginal Community Organisations and their websites where you can find information about the programs and support that they offer.
- Oonah Belonging Place Oonah Health & Community Services Aboriginal Corporation | OONAH
- Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place Home - MMIGP
- Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency | VACCA
- Aboriginal Health Service, Eastern Health Aboriginal Health (easternhealth.org.au)
- Boorndawan Willam Aboriginal Healing Service (bwahs.com.au)
Please contact our team if you have any questions. We look forward to supporting you and your child/children with their educational journey.
Warm Regards,
Colleen Garner | Koorie Education Coordinator (KEC)
M: 0428 929 577