Teaching & Learning

This week, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend and speak at the annual National Inclusion and Disability Conference. It was such a privilege to listen to, speak with, learn from and be inspired by like-minded individuals and organisations that are working hard to improve the educational outcomes for students with disabilities and our Indigenous students.

The major highlight of this conference for many of the attendees was hearing from students themselves. They candidly shared their experiences, views and thoughts on how we can make schools a more inclusive and safe space and the importance of Indigenous education in our schools.

Some of the inspiring take-aways and quotes from the conference:

'Students don't just want to be heard, they want to be listened to.' - Rachel, 19 yrs old.

'The key is consistency. Whatever supports you are doing for students with special needs, you need to do it so it becomes the norm. It benefits not just me but everyone in the classroom.' - Declan, 17 years old.

'Adjustments are crucial for some, useful for all, harmful to none.' - Kate De Bruin, Senior Lecturer, Monash University.

'In school, I learnt about American history and German history. I didn't learn anything about my history. As an Aboriginal, It didn't make me feel connected to school.' - Isaiah Firebrace, Singer and Author.

At Croydon SDS, we are committed to supporting all our students to be successful learners and ensuring that Indigenous perspectives are an essential part of our school Curriculum. We have a collective school vision and are striving together for excellence in our inclusive practices. This ensures that all students are participating, learning, developing and succeeding in a safe and supportive environment.

Maly O’Grady | Inclusion Outreach Coach | Marrung Lead