At Leppington Public School, we are committed to creating a culturally safe, inclusive and respectful learning environment where Aboriginal histories, cultures and perspectives are valued and celebrated. In line with the priorities of the NSW Department of Education and our partnership with families and community, Aboriginal Education is embedded across school life through learning programs, cultural experiences and meaningful opportunities for connection and understanding. We believe all students benefit from developing knowledge, respect and appreciation of Aboriginal cultures, while Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are supported to feel a strong sense of belonging, pride and success in their learning journey.

Term 1

In Term 1, our Aboriginal Education Committee has been proud to lead a range of meaningful initiatives that strengthen cultural identity, build strong relationships, and provide opportunities for student voice across our school community.

Our Student Yarning Group has provided a valued weekly opportunity for Aboriginal students to come together in a supportive and welcoming space to set personal goals, reflect on attendance, celebrate achievements, and enjoy a cheese toastie for breakfast. A highlight this term was the opportunity for students to meet and collaborate with the artist designing our Aboriginal mural, which will be featured on the walls surrounding the onsite construction. This has been an inspiring experience, allowing students to contribute ideas and engage in the creative process of a significant whole-school cultural artwork. The Yarning Group also continues to play an important role in ensuring student voice is heard, providing feedback on school initiatives and strengthening student agency within the school.

Our weekly Koori Club is open to all students, providing opportunities to explore and celebrate Aboriginal culture and traditions. This term, students engaged in hands-on learning as they created yarning sticks and explored the importance of storytelling within Aboriginal culture. They also deepened their understanding of the Aboriginal Flag, learning about its symbolism and significance for all First Nations people.

We were pleased to host a Parent Yarning Group, bringing together parents, carers, and family members of our Aboriginal students. This session provided a valuable opportunity to build strong relationships between families and staff, particularly at the beginning of the year. It also supported collaborative discussions around the development of authentic and meaningful Personalised Learning Pathway (PLP) goals, ensuring that student learning is guided by shared aspirations between home and school. These PLPs are proudly displayed in classrooms and the clubhouse, utilising the template that was co-constructed with our Aboriginal students. This initiative allows students to see their goals represented in a meaningful way. This visibility helps to strengthen ownership, keeps aspirations at the forefront of daily learning, and reinforces the importance of goal-setting as an ongoing, shared journey between students, staff and families.

Together, these initiatives reflect our commitment to cultural pride, student voice, and strong community partnerships, ensuring Aboriginal perspectives and aspirations are embedded authentically across our school.

Term 2

Term 2 has been an exciting and meaningful term for our Aboriginal Education Committee, with students, families and staff working together to strengthen cultural connections and celebrate Aboriginal identity across our school.

One of our ongoing initiatives has been the development of our Mob Wall, led by our Student Yarning Group. Aboriginal students have been exploring their family heritage, identifying their Nation or Country and proudly contributing this information to a living display that celebrates the rich diversity of Aboriginal cultures represented within our school. Families have also played an important role in this project, sharing stories and cultural knowledge during our Family Yarning Group to ensure students' identities are represented authentically and respectfully.

Throughout the term, Aboriginal students from Kindergarten to Year 6 also collaborated to create a beautiful Indigenous artwork, showcasing their creativity, teamwork and cultural pride. This artwork was proudly unveiled at our Term 2 Aboriginal Education Showcase, where Aboriginal families joined us for an afternoon tea and Family Yarning Group session. Together, students, families and teachers celebrated students' Personalised Learning Pathway (PLP) achievements, reflected on their progress and set new learning goals for Term 3. The showcase also provided a wonderful opportunity for Aboriginal students to connect across year levels and for families to strengthen relationships within our school community.

Our students were also proud to represent Leppington Public School at the Liverpool Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (LLAECG) Combined Schools NAIDOC Event. This inspiring day brought together Aboriginal students from schools across the local area to participate in authentic cultural experiences, hands-on workshops and activities led by local schools, Aboriginal community members and organisations. The event provided valuable opportunities for students to celebrate culture, build friendships, strengthen their sense of identity and connect with other young Aboriginal leaders, while staff developed strong professional relationships across the local network.

Coming up in Term 3...

We are excited to announce that our Aboriginal students will work alongside renowned Indigenous artist Michael Fardon to create a permanent Aboriginal wall mural that will become a lasting legacy within our school. Students will also participate in the immersive Warami Program at the Georges River Environmental Education Centre, where they will connect with Country through authentic cultural experiences and outdoor learning.

The Aboriginal Education Committee looks forward to another term of celebrating culture, strengthening community partnerships and creating meaningful opportunities for our students to connect, learn and thrive.