First Nations at LHC

Wominjeka (welcome) to the 2023 school year!

In the last week of Term 4 2022, a group of our First Nations students were chosen to travel to Wadawurrung Country for an adventure camp hosted by YMCA Anglesea. Students participated in a range of adventurous activities such as mountain bike riding, skateboarding, surfing, orienteering and high ropes. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to connect to Country and develop positive relationships with each other. As a group, we spent time reflecting on our school year and planned for the year ahead. We are grateful to YMCA Anglesea for an incredible opportunity. 

We have kick-started Term 1 by hosting our first Yarning Circle for the school year. First Nations students were joined by special guest and ex-student, Polly Duff-Rankine, a proud Ngarrindjeri woman. Polly attended on behalf of the Moondani Toombadool Centre at Swinburne University to discuss future pathways and tertiary opportunities for our students. We loved having Polly share her knowledge with us. 

Throughout Semester 1, a group of our First Nations students will be participating in the Koorie Student Program run by Yarra Ranges Tech School. The program provides students with an opportunity to incorporate culture, innovation and technology.  Last year, students collaborated with students from other secondary schools in our local area and had the opportunity to be mentored by Indigenous mentors such as Corey Tutt, 2020 NSW Young Australian of the Year and Founder of Deadly Science. Previous projects had our students working hard to design laser-cut badges to display on their uniforms and create unique skateboard decals. 

All students in our community are encouraged to join our lunchtime club, Mob Mondays (Week A). During this time, we discuss ways to embed our culture into our school community, organise events and discuss a variety of other topics. It is a great opportunity for students to come together and collaborate on individual projects. Last year, Tahlia Tweedie, a proud Wurundjeri student, pitched her idea to Mob Monday about an Indigenous design idea for the Year 12 Hoodies, and with the support of her cohort, the design is now being worn by all. Well done Tahlia!