Alumni News
Annual MITS and Pathway Schools Professional Learning and Sharing Day
Each year, MITS brings together staff from our Pathway Schools for a professional learning day focused on sharing practice, learning from one another, and hearing from guest speakers.
This year’s theme was Transition. MITS staff shared insights into the MITS School Program and the ways we support Year 8 students through the important transition into Year 9. The day sparked valuable discussion between schools, with participants sharing effective academic and cultural support strategies that help students settle, engage, and thrive.
In the afternoon, we were privileged to hear from Heather Carter, Principal of Ngukurr School, who joined us via Teams. Heather generously shared her perspectives on transition from a Community viewpoint, including:
- The journey from Guluman (playgroup) to school
- Instructional approaches at Ngukurr School
- Transitioning to boarding school from a Community perspective
- Supporting pathways and opportunities beyond school
Heather’s insights provided an important reminder of the role that strong relationships, cultural understanding, and family and community partnerships play in supporting young people throughout their educational journeys.
The day was a valuable opportunity for collaboration, reflection, and shared learning, and we thank all participants for their contributions and commitment to supporting successful transitions for students.
Alumni – Where Are They Now?
Many of our alumni and their families have faced evacuation from their homes and communities during the recent wet season. Our thoughts have been with them and we hope that life is settling back to normal.
Moni Ulamari – (Barunga; MITS Year 12 Class of 2024, Siena College, Melbourne)
Moni is working as a teacher Aide at Barunga School, and loving her work with children. This photo is taken from last year, when the school hired horses for the day!
Leah Baird (Palmerston; Year 12 Class of 2025, CGGS) and and Ciara Stewart (Bairnsdale; Year 12 Class of 2025, Kingswood)
During Term 1 and Term 2, both Leah and Ciara have been working as Teaching Assistants at Milingimbi, at Milingimbi Island off the coast of Arnhem Land. The girls are working alongside Leah’s Nanna, Alison Wunungmurra, and esteemed Indigenous educator and MITS Director.
Marley Dolby (Derby, WA, Year 12 Class of 2024, St Kevin’s College Melbourne;)
Marley is working at Mistake Creek Station. It’s an Tjupanyin owned/managed cattle station spanning 400,000 hectares on the Northern Territory/Western Australia border along the Duncan Highway. It is a renowned, highly productive pastoral enterprise that runs over 23,000 head of cattle.
Marley has been working there for a couple of months and although the work is hard, he’s enjoying it. Herding cattle, maintenance (fencing, boring, etc), getting annoyed with feral donkeys. They have a beef management training program for staff (Cert 2,3, and 4) based at the station, and he’s met the students from the East Kimberley Aboriginal Pastoral Academy, some who get jobs at the station when they graduate.
The Aboriginal Pastoral Academy (APA) provides supported, culturally safe career pathways for young Aboriginal adults in Western Australia's northern pastoral industry
