Aboriginal Learning, Wellbeing and Safety

Note: Throughout this document the term Koorie is used to refer to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Alfredton Primary School embraces the vision of the Marrung Aboriginal Education Plan and celebrates the culture, knowledge and experiences of First Nations Peoples. We are committed to creating and maintaining a school environment that empowers Koorie students to feel valued, respected and culturally strong.

Our school has a number of measures in place to ensure our community acknowledges and appreciates the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. These measures are outlined below.

Family and community perspectives and feedback

We actively seek participation and feedback from Koorie students, families and Community by:

• Acknowledging the existing knowledge of Koorie students and their families and seeking their feedback on decisions that affect them, and on how well we are meeting their needs, through initial enrolment meetings, Student Support Groups, during the development of Individual Education Plans and Campfire conversations.
• Working with our regional Koorie Engagement Support Officers (KESOs) for advice on how we can create a culturally inclusive learning environment and to build our capacity to provide support for individual Koorie students attending our school
• Partnering with Ballarat Community Health to seek feedback and advice on existing and new actions we can take to support the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal students and children in our community.

Training and professional development of staff

To ensure our staff are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to create and maintain a positive and inclusive school environment we:

• Ensure staff participate in Community Understanding and Safety Training (CUST) training
• Provide tailored training and professional development each year to build knowledge for specific staff based on any emerging or current areas of need
• Support teachers to work in their Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) to map and develop teaching and learning activities within the Victorian Curriculum priorities to enable staff to build their confidence with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content and to recognise opportunities to draw upon Aboriginal pedagogies and practices within their classrooms
• Internally run professional development is planned to equip staff with an understanding and appreciation of the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and its importance to the wellbeing and safety of Koorie children and students.

Curriculum and learning

Alfredton Primary School supports the development of high expectations and individualised learning for Koorie students and creates a learning environment for all students that acknowledges, respects and values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and identities. This includes:

• Implementing the Department of Education and Training’s Koorie Education Policy
• Ensuring that all Koorie students have individual education plans developed in partnership with students, families, and KESOs.
• KESO run sessions with Koorie students about history and culture.
• All year levels plan and teach a curriculum that covers first nation’s history.

Assemblies and other school events and activities

We ensure our school events and activities acknowledge and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture by:

• Acknowledging the Country and Traditional Owners of the land on which our school is located Wadawurung people of the Kulin nation at the start of every school assembly and meeting
• Recognising key events and anniversaries that celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture
• Provide opportunities for children to produce artwork acknowledging key events and celebrations.

Built and digital environment

We ensure our built environment and website demonstrates an appreciation and acknowledgment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through:

• Flying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on school grounds.
• Displaying signs outside our main entrance that Acknowledge Country and Traditional Owners
• Including an Acknowledgement of Country and Traditional Owners on our website home page and newsletter.
• Publishing in the School Yearbook a page of significant cultural events held during the year.

Community feedback

We recognise that our school’s practices must be regularly reviewed and updated in partnership with our families and local communities. We encourage you to contact the Koorie Champion with any feedback, concerns or suggestions.

REVIEW AND APPROVAL

Plan last reviewed	October 2022
Consultation	School Council
Approved by	Principal
Next scheduled review date	October 2024 (or following relevant child safety incident)