Aboriginal Education
Australind SHS is committed to being a culturally responsive school, ensuring our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are provided with supportive teaching and learning programs. Throughout the year, our Aboriginal students are given opportunities to celebrate and learn more about their culture.
Follow the Dream After School Tutoring
Follow the Dream supports the aspirations of Aboriginal students to successfully complete their secondary schooling.
Achieving academic success lies at the heart of the program through students having access to individualised after-school tutoring and mentoring that improves performance across all areas of the curriculum.
Students experience a range of activities that enrich learning and broaden horizons. Post-school study and career options are explored, culture is celebrated and general capabilities that encompass knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions are developed to assist students to live and work.
Follow The Dream encourages students to ‘Dream Big’ with purpose and in a setting that creates a sense of belonging. On completion of school, Follow The Dream students are well prepared to embark on successful career pathways and to identify as leaders and role models amongst their peers, families and communities.
Students make an after-school commitment to access tutoring up to four times per week.
NAIDOC Week
National NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia in the first week of July each year to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.
Each year in Term 3, students from across the school come together to celebrate NAIDOC Week. During the week, staff and students engage in activities such as:
- Art and craft stalls
- Music performances
- Documentary viewings
- Curriculum activities
- Interschool sports carnivals
- Guest speakers
- Incursions
- NAIDOC Week Assembly
- Local elder visits
In 2024, Australind SHS will be celebrating NAIDOC Week in Term 3, Week 1 (Wednesday 17 July – Tuesday 23 July). The theme for 2024 is “Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud”.
This year’s theme celebrates the unyielding spirit of our communities and invites all to stand in solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced.
The fire represents the enduring strength and vitality of Indigenous cultures, passed down through generations despite the challenges faced. It is a symbol of connection to the land, to each other, and to the rich tapestry of traditions that define Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As we honour this flame, we kindle the sparks of pride and unity, igniting a renewed commitment to acknowledging, preserving, and sharing the cultural heritage that enriches our nation. It invites all Australians to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful dialogue, fostering a society where the wisdom and contributions of Indigenous peoples are fully valued and respected. Through our collective efforts, we can forge a future where the stories, traditions, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are cherished and celebrated, enriching the fabric of the nation with the oldest living culture in the world.
National Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 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 theme for National Reconciliation Week 2024, Now More Than Ever, encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise.
Students at Australind SHS participate in the annual Bridge Walk. From the Wardandi Boodja statue at Koombana Bay the walk makes its way across the Koombana Bridge before finishing at the Graham Bricknell Music Shell, where there is food and community stalls.