NAIDOC Week 2024

Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre visit

Last Tuesday our Melton Campus Indigenous students visited the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre at the Melbourne Museum. They explored the First Peoples Gallery, the Milarri Garden Trail, and the Melbourne Story.

Students experienced Bunjil's nest, the wedge-tailed eagle and ancestral spirit, learning how he sang the Country, Law, and people of the Kulin nation into being.

They explored sculptures and a cave with Indigenous paintings in the gardens and observed live animals. They also learned about the plants and waterways significant to the Aboriginal people of southeastern Australia and the traditional uses of these plants.

This excursion was a key event of NAIDOC week, allowing students to embrace this year's theme, Keep the fire burning, blak, loud and proud.

Our students listened to the voices of the Koorie Community, learning the story of Aboriginal Victoria from the time of creation to the present day, empowering them through this profound cultural experience.

“The excursion to the Bunjilaka Cultural Centre was a once-in-a-lifetime experience where we learned and experienced the different ways that the many Indigenous communities helped shape themselves and Australia.” Jackamos, Year 11

“The excursion was eye-opening and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Finding out more about Aboriginal culture and history was very exciting and there wasn't a single moment I wasn't learning something new and interesting.” Zayle, Year 9

“I found it interesting to see how Aboriginal designers used their imagination to create their designs.” Lily, Year 9

Nallei Jerring - Join and Unite

On Wednesday 6 August, our Western Bulldogs Nallei Jerring Program participants, Year 9 Melton Campus students Lily and Ruby, participated in a Yarning Circle about cultural identity at the Whitten Oval in Footscray.

The program supports young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by providing opportunities through the Western Bulldogs to encourage leadership within the local Aboriginal community.

The Western Bulldogs Football Club aims to inspire, educate and encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to become future leaders in Victoria's West Aboriginal community. Young people are provided with exciting life and cultural and sports experiences from which to learn and develop.

“I am grateful for our time (at Whitten Oval). We broke up into two groups, one for boys and one for girls. The girls were led by Kirby Bentley (former AFLW player), who spoke to us about being strong and staying positive while sharing details about her childhood. We had lunch and were also able to talk to Western Bulldogs’ players Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Arty Jones and Tom Liberatore.” Lily.

Yarn Circle – Tote Bag Making

There was plenty of conversation and colouring during NAIDOC Week yarns held at both campuses during lunch breaks last week.

Students did a great job decorating tote bags designed by Indigenous artist Kerri-Ann Taggart.

The bags featured a kangaroo, known as gangurru in some Aboriginal languages, surrounded by small shapes representing the Aboriginal art symbol for a kangaroo.

They are often denoted by parallel lines with outward-facing barbs suggesting the tracks left in the sand by the creature’s hind legs.

It was an afternoon filled with vibrant discussions, music, and a deep appreciation for Indigenous culture.

Melton Campus

Cobblebank Campus

Together We Walk

Students and staff across both campuses notched up 2353 laps during our annual NAIDOC Week walkathon on Friday.

Together We Walk is an Opening the Doors Foundation (OTDF) initiative that raises funds and awareness to support First Nations access to education.

Students and staff at Cobblebank Campus walked 740 laps, while at Melton Campus, 1613 laps were recorded.

At Cobblebank, students walked with cardboard cutouts displaying quotes from significant events in recent Indigenous Australian history and messages of Reconciliation to Keep the Fire Burning, the theme for NAIDOC Week 2024.

Donations will be made, and House points will be allocated for each lap walked.

We thank all students, staff and FIRE Carriers who participated in this event and supported our NAIDOC Week activities.