Students and staff are working together to promote Indigenous education at Grimwade House.
“Our students are likely to be empowered and empowering people of the future, so we want them to have a balanced perspective about diversity, and be advocates for our First Nation People,” says Year 3 teacher and driving force behind the current groundswell of change, Ms Shelley Faulds. “We are encouraging them to be proud of our Traditional owners and the culture they bring to us all.”
A new Student Service team was formed this year – the Reconciliation Action Team. For Year 6 members, Harley and Connor, a sense of justice and fairness permeates their thinking. “We need to recognise that the First Nation People were here before white settlers, and we need to respect that and share the land with them,” says Connor.
The Team plays a key role in presenting a student voice across the School. “We make Grimwade House aware of what is happening in the Indigenous community in Melbourne and around Australia, and we tell stories about their heritage,” says Harley. Creating a bespoke Acknowledgement of Country relating to Grimwade House land has also formed part of their work.
The complementary staff Reconciliation Action Team is focused on embedding learnings about Indigenous culture and issues within the curriculum. Working with external Indigenous groups, the Team is developing new course materials, as well as defining protocols and boundaries.
In addition, the Community Problem Solving Group – a Year 5 enrichment initiative – is developing resources focusing on Indigenous language for others across the School to use, with the support of members of Indigenous communities within and external to the School.
“While we are working hard to discover all we can, our own lack of deep knowledge brings a fear we might be disrespectful, so it is important that we reach out to those who have the knowledge and ask them to share it with us,” says Ms Faulds. “If you think about the Indigenous connection to country and to their families, their appreciation of sustainability and how they have used art for thousands of years, there is a lot we can learn.
There is a clear and strong philosophy behind this endeavour at Grimwade House. “I teach because I want a greater Australia, a sustainable Australia, and a harmonious and peaceful Australia for my students and for my own children,” says Ms Faulds. “I like think that our actions will go some way to achieving that goal.”
Grimwade House Acknowledgement of Country
We are gathered here today as Melbourne Grammar School and would like to acknowledge the Boon Wurrung people; the traditional owners and preservers of the land on which we come to learn and grow.
We also acknowledge the Boon Wurrung totems; Bunjil the creator and Waang the protector spirit. In particular, we honour the bubup and biik; the two pillars of Bundjil’s lore and give our gratitude for the opportunity to continue our educational journey on this place.
We pay our respects to all other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their elders past, present and emerging.
We recognise with respect First Nation People custodianship; that this is their land as it will go on to be in the future. We acknowledge their physical and spiritual connection to country so many years before us.
Authors: Year 6 students Charlie, Connor and Harley
