ABORIGINAL EDUCATION
We have certainly been very busy at school with important cultural events occurring amongst a deluge of rain!!
Last week our school held a beautiful Liturgy of remembrance and healing to recognise National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week. It was lovely having family members join us for this special Liturgy as well.
Following our liturgy, I guided students through grade-based lessons around the importance and significance of recognising National Sorry Day. We learnt there were specific laws that discriminated against First nations peoples as well as government policies that facilitated the forced removal of Aboriginal children as part of the stolen generations. At the heart of this, we explored the notion of healing and how the continued resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has enabled First Nation cultures to thrive despite immense hardships faced since 1788.
In our lessons, we also explored this year’s Reconciliation theme, ‘Bridging Now to Next’. Within this theme we learnt about the importance of using past events to help guide us towards a fair and harmonious future as we all journey together. We looked at the official Reconciliation artwork completed by Bree Buttenshaw- a proud Kalkadoon woman and a talented digital artist who lives on Quandamooka Country. Bree uses Australian Native plants in this artwork as they exemplify resilience. Thriving in one of the harshest climates on Earth, these Australian native plants demonstrate the power of endurance and regeneration.
Students loved the chance to connect with this artwork by decorating their own copy of it.
SAVE THE DATE: Our next cultural celebration is NAIDOC day. We would love family and community members to join us for yet another amazing celebration!! Please save the date Wednesday 23rd July and join us for our Morning Ceremony and / or Afternoon Ceremony on NAIDOC day.
Significant Cultural Events
Monday 26th May: National Sorry Day
Every year on 26 May, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations’.
Click HERE for more information about National Sorry Day
Tuesday 27th May – Tuesday 3rd June: Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week 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.
The 2025 Reconciliation theme- ‘Bridging Now to Next’, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future.
Bridging Now to Next calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us.
Click HERE for more information about Reconciliation Week
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Education Teacher