Aboriginal Education Officers (AEOs) work closely with teachers to develop culturally appropriate resources and programs.
They promote Aboriginal education, encourage students and support parents/carers.
AEOs work with teachers to assist Aboriginal students achieve their potential and keep the Aboriginal community informed of students' progress and achievements.
AEOs provide role models for Aboriginal students and have a positive impact on helping them achieve their potential.
Dorchester ETU funds two AEO positions to support student welfare and development of Aboriginal Cultural Education initiatives - Emily Backhouse and Thomas Freebairn.
Reiby Aboriginal Education Committee (RACCC) provides a foundation to strengthen to establish and strengthen relationships with community. The success of the forum is evident as new and established service providers come into the school to provide a variety of workshops celebrating Aboriginal Culture ranging from leadership, family, identity, mentoring, weaving, dance, music and food. Exploring links with community, we have been able to provide a variety of engaging programs with tangible and multisensory cultural experiences leading up to our NAIDOC celebrations. Other significant days such as Close the gap are successful due to support from TAFE - (Allistair and PJ), Community Service Providers, Justice Health and Local Community Elders.
NAIDOC celebrartions provide an excellent opportunity to consolidate relationships with a variety of Service Providers. These included Tharawal Aboriginal Co., Aboriginal Studies – TAFE, Youth of the Streets, Youth Justice, DoE, Art Gallery of NSW, Royal Sydney Botanic Gardens, Community Elders, Greater Sydney Local Land Services, WEAVE, AIME and various others.
All came together to support our NAIDOC celebrations making it a very successful and enjoyable event for both students and staff. NAIDOC day included a ceremony in the Dorchester/ Reiby Learning Circle facilitated by community leaders and Elders (students, staff and community together), water blessing to celebrate Indigenous women, cultural workshops, native animals and reptiles, rock climbing, student cultural dance performances, and community performers.
In the lead up to NAIDOC day celebrations, students were engaged in cultural practices including making fire, weaving, dance, throwing boomerangs, plant identification and introducing and establishing native bee hives into our Learning Circle and native habitat garden.
100% of students participated in the activities.
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge to the traditional custodians of the land the Dharawal people whose land on which Dorchester Education and Training Unit is located.
As we share our own knowledge, teaching and learning practices within this space, we strive to be in constant respect of the knowledge embedded within the Dharawal nation and acknowledge the ongoing connection and practices of the local Aboriginal community in the climate of today.
