The girls of Worawa Aboriginal Girls College are being encouraged to embrace their history, while closing the gap on educational disadvantage.
They come from 30 remote and often disadvantaged Aboriginal communities across the country and they speak 25 Indigenous languages, but at the college, all are thrust into a new life east of Melbourne.
School principal Aunty Lois Peeler said Worawa's unique model made it the only school of its kind in Australia.
Ms Peeler – sister of school founder Hyllus Maris and member of The Sapphires - said it is based on the national curriculum, but extends to include specialised Indigenous cultural and social and emotional well-being classes.
"Our programs here are underpinned by the values, which are Aboriginal values, of relationship, responsibility, respect and rigour,” she said.
“If you're living in a remote community or regional community, or even in urban situations but you're in an Aboriginal context, it can be very, very difficult. And I think that, in some communities, they don't even offer a secondary education."
Art is one of the measures which help the girls connect with their ancestors.
Their works are sold, with 80 per cent of the earnings going back to the student artists and their communities.
Ms Peeler said Hyllus Maris – a Yorta Yorta activist and poet - had a strong focus.
"She had the vision to develop a program that brought together academic learning, cultural learning and celebration, as well as the wellbeing,” she said.
“That's all combined, to make a holistic model of education. And I think that was around the fact that our kids were being left behind in school. And many still are."
Largely funded by the federal government, Worawa selects students through ABSTUDY, offers scholarships and receives donations.
For 30 of its 32 years, Worawa has been located in Healesville, east of Melbourne.
It lies on the former Coranderrk reserve or station, designated to Aboriginal people following European settlement.
Ms Peeler said it is a place of reverence and forms part of the girls' education.
“Through the dislocation, people were moved around a lot, and many of them ended up here on Coranderrk,” she said.
“One of the first things we do is we give that history, and they understand that this is sacred land that we're on."
Year 10 student Pacey Jackson acknowledged the importance of her Indigenous history and said she feels a responsibility to pass that on to others.
"Some people got their culture taken away from them, and it's really important to know so we can teach generations," she said.
Although school at the college finishes at Year 10, the girls often continue on to complete secondary school and have ambitions to enter tertiary studies.
Others will return to work in their communities, with new perspectives.
Share
