Thornbury High News

Reconciliation Action Plan

THS is in the process of developing a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). So far, involvement has mainly been with staff, with the aim to engage and consult with students, families and the broader community in 2023. The aim is to look at what THS is already doing towards reconciliation, identify the gaps and look for opportunities. Here are some highlights so far:

  • Earlier this year THS had its first Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony by Uncle Colin Hunter from the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Council, for students and staff. The VET Kitchen Operations students baked delicious biscuits using bushfoods ingredients for the occasion. A Welcome to Country will now be programmed annually.
  • Reconciliation Week activities were held for students at lunchtimes, designed by students involved in the Deadly Sister Girls program and the Student
  •  Representative Council. The highlight was clearly the screening of The Sapphires! 
  • A curriculum audit process is being trialled this year, to explore how THS incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, histories and cultures in our classrooms. The aim is to roll this process out across different subjects and year levels so we can map this cross-curriculum priority. 
  • SRC students were taught how to write their own meaningful and appropriate  Acknowledgements of Country, which are now used in meetings and assemblies. 
  • All staff have undergone Community Understanding and Safety Training with the local Koorie Engagement and Support Officers, Tyson and Sonya.
  • Partnerships for professional development and collaboration/consultation are also being explored with the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc, Darebin City Council and Reconciliation Victoria. 
  • A new Aboriginal flag now flies and a new flagpole is scheduled for construction in 2023 for the Torres Strait Islander flag. 

Thanks must go to Kaydee Kyle-Taylor (Deadly Sister Girls Program Coordinator) for her ongoing advice; to Ryan Millar (Assistant Principal) for his support; and to all the teachers, who have volunteered their time towards not only making great things happen in their classrooms but contributing to the school community through the RAP too. 

 

I look forward to re-launching the RAP in 2023 and to chatting with anyone who wants more information or is keen to get on board. Happy holidays!

 

Elspeth Blunt

RAP Coordinator

elspeth.blunt@thornburyhs.vic.edu.au