SVC Reconciliation Action Plan

Relationships with Community – Celebrate National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week, 27 May to 3 June, is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. Our St Virgil’s College community works together with First Nations people to engage in ongoing actions and conversations about how we occupy the Land upon which our College sits and how to best embed truth-telling practices into our learning and activities. 

The National Reconciliation Week 2023 theme, “Be a Voice for Generations” is expressed in many of the opportunities and initiatives we have experienced at the College recently. We have been represented at several state-wide and national forums, engaging in and contributing to conversations with colleagues and First Nations people from around the country. Our Aboriginal students have had the opportunity to spend time with Uncle Rodney Dillon and young palawa woman Carleeta Thomas on Bruny Island earlier this term, and for several of our Year 10 students this was an important opportunity to continue a historical and cultural conversation which began at the end of last year with Aunty Verna Nichols at Wybalenna on Flinders Island. These island experiences are enriched by the opportunity to spend time on Country at the Austins Ferry campus with First Nations staff member Trent Prouse, yarning, and caring for country every week. All our year 9 History students have experienced the truth telling interactive workshops Gumnuts to Buttons, joined by many of our support staff, and our drama students have been working on storytelling from First Nations perspectives with Jamie Graham Blair and Harley Mansell. Our Junior school music students focused their classes this week on two famous Aboriginal songs, Yil Lull by Joe Geia which tells the story of the Aboriginal flag and From Little Things Big Things Grow by Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly which tells the story of the Gurindji Walk-off. 

Be a Voice for Generations is an inspiring call which encourages all of us to embrace opportunities for reconciliation, by listening to Elders and First Nations Voices, participating with an open heart in learning and un-learning experiences and being present in conversations of justice, truth and healing.