Mission
An Anglican community inspiring every learner every experience every day
Vision
To be a leader in Christian education that is characterised by a global vision that inspires hope
A Year of Remarkable Generosity
The past year has been one of remarkable generosity and shared purpose within the Barker community. In the 2024–2025 financial year, the Foundation welcomed 258 new donors who each contributed $200 or more, joining a growing network committed to making a difference.
Together, we raised more than $3 million, a testament to the strength of our shared vision.
Beyond the impressive total raised on Giving Day, what stands out most is the breadth of participation - through donations and volunteering. This reflects one of our key strategic priorities under our Culture of Giving pillar. In truth, Giving Day did not create a culture of giving at Barker; it revealed a culture of generosity that has always been here. This spirit aligns with the Foundation’s values:
• Inspiring hope and providing care for the disadvantaged and vulnerable
• Being positive role models for our children
• Sharing with others out of the abundance we have received
In the 2025 calendar year to date, we have received 1047 donations totalling approximately $1.2 million, including our largest single gift of $250,000 and 28 gifts of $10,000 or more. These results were driven by two major campaigns - Make Your Mark and Giving Day - and supported by ongoing contributions to the Future Fund, Indigenous Education Fund, Scholarship and Building Funds.
Our strategic focus on the disadvantaged student has clearly struck a chord with parents and supporters, and this focus will continue over the next 5-year period of the Foundation Strategic plan.
With heartfelt thanks.
Aaron Black Barker Foundation Chair
Your support – in donations, volunteering, serving on committees, and bringing your ideas – has yet again made an extraordinary impact on the programs and people where we seek to make a difference.
Equally, the time and expertise you have shared have been nothing short of transformative. Your mentorship, guidance, and active involvement have inspired our students and staff alike, creating a vibrant and supportive community. The sense of unity and commitment you bring has been instrumental in nurturing the growth and development of our young minds.
The Extraordinary Impact of Giving
I am profoundly moved to express my deepest gratitude for the remarkable generosity you have shown to Barker and our students once again this year.
Surely one of the highlights in 2025 was our inaugural Giving Day. The generosity of our families, staff and alumni was extraordinary and revealed a strong culture of giving at our school. With your generosity, an incredible $833,500 was raised in a 12 hour period, which will now support transformational scholarships for Indigenous and refugee students, as well as support Barker families who may find themselves in need due to unforeseen circumstances.
A further highlight this year was the spectacular BCPA Spring Fair. What an incredible celebration of our community it was! Although difficult to estimate precisely, some counted the number of attendees exceeding 10,000 guests – a testament to the magnetic appeal of our College and the warmth of our community spirit.
The atmosphere throughout the day was nothing short of festival-like, filled with joy, laughter, and that special sense of belonging that makes Barker so unique.
As we reflect on all that has been achieved this year, we rejoice in the blessings of our God through this community. Thank you for the deep encouragement and support offered throughout this year. The loving care so manifestly evident is what makes our community a precious place.
With sincere gratitude.
Phillip Heath AM Head of Barker College
Quick Facts
What are People Giving Most To Who is Giving
New vs Repeat Giving
6825
Slices of toast for breakfast across the campuses for eager learners this year.
42,000 minutes
Of travel on the bus for our furthest student to get to and from Darkinjung Barker.
305
Loads of washing uniforms at Dhupuma.
58
Volunteer hours per week or 2,146 hours across the year at Marri Mittigar.
This is including working bees, morning teas, literacy, numeracy, sport, English conversation class for parents, IT support, Chess coaching, fundraisers, website design.
33
Alumni events across the past 12 months.
The Dhupuma bus, 3 x troopies and FaFT van have travelled a combined 170,000km to pick up students, travel to on-country learning days and attending ceremonies.
690kg
Of fruit served across the three Indigenous campuses.
170,000km 9,750km
Travelled for Darkinjung students to visit Barker College in Hornsby each fortnight.
25
Scholarships awarded in the past year across Music, Sport, Drama, STEAM and to Indigenous scholars.
Giving Day
BRIGHTER FUTURES
Barker ‘s inaugural Giving Day was held on 5 June, bringing together hundreds of parents and alumni as funds were raised for Indigenous and Refugee scholarships, and bursaries for Barker families in need.
This remarkable day blew away all our expectations as the donations flowed in, as the community rallied around. After the web page closed (a few days after Giving day) the final result stood at an astonishing $833,500, with a further significant gift to come in just days later, bringing the funds raised to over $1 million.
Nearly 1000 Barker parents, alumni and staff made donations on the day, underlining the fact that the heart of the Barker community is both generous and selfless. This level of participation is unprecedented and deeply encouraging.
A few special donations are worth a mention: the community at Darkinjung Barker, one of our Indigenous schools that will ultimately benefit from the scholarships supported, got together and raised an amazing $2,800 to go into the Giving Day fund. These students and their families wholeheartedly believe in the value of a Barker education!
We were also made aware of a student who donated their birthday money to the Giving Day fundraiser. What a kind and generous gift from this young person.
As a direct result of Giving Day, we have revealed a culture of generosity among the Barker community that will continue to have an impact in the years ahead. We have also welcomed 352 new members to the Barker Foundation, who each made a donation of $200 or more.
Dhupuma Barker
Transforming Indigenous Education
After a long wait, the students, staff and community of Dhupuma Barker is preparing to move into their newly completed school building, with construction due to finish at the end of 2025.
The new school has been built with donations raised over a three-year capital campaign, raising over $12 million for the construction.
This campaign included funds from three Indigenous Fundraising Dinners, two VIP visits to Garma with a group of donors, two government agencies, major donors in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney, and countless phone calls, meetings and proposals to solicit support. The Barker parent community alone has contributed approximately $2 million of the total costs of this project!
Our community should feel rightly proud of this amazing outcome, and of the wonderful new environment that our students at Dhupuma can enjoy. Finally, their school is fit for purpose and ready to take these young Yolŋu students into their future.
Support for the Indigenous Education program at Barker College has never been stronger. Over the past year, we received over $500k specifically to support this work, with a share of a further $1 million received through events such as Giving Day. Every dollar is gratefully received, and put to work immediately in supporting the students, staff and buildings.
Dhupuma Barker Student Reflections
Eli Marawili
I like swimming, AFL, soccer. My favourite is playing tip tip. I like literacy rotations and having fun in the classroom. I love reading and maths.
Caleb Yunupingu
I like learning and doing fun stuff and learning to do buŋgul and learning about everything! I like going to the swimming pool and playing. When I come to school I am always happy.
Davina Ganambarr
This year I liked going to the pool and going to Bawaka. Bawaka was fun because we got to go for a swim at Lonely Beach. In the classroom I like doing drawing and art. I am excited about the new school next year.
Nikita Yunupingu
In the classroom I liked doing maths. I also liked learning to read and write in Yolŋu Matha with Lizzie, Janet, Caroline and Tatum. I enjoyed Learning on-Country and getting bush medicine at Rainbow Cliff. Also playing basketball with my friends.
Justin Gurruwiwi
My favourite thing about school is Sport, Spelling and Maths. I loved going to the Spring Fair in Sydney because it was good out there. When I am at school I feel happy because I have my friends there.
Sean Yunupingu
I love school because I love Maths, Reading and Drawing. I loved our school camp because we swam at Loney Beach. My favourite part about Sydney was flying the drones because I could pick up the thing and land it in the box.
Willy Wanambi
I liked learning about reading. I also liked going to Bawaka and swimming and swimming at the pool. Brain breaks and AFL was also fun with my friends.
Amanda Yunupingu
I love learning. I like spelling, maths and reading the most. I love going fishing and camping. I loved learning on-Country at camp and weaving. I love helping and caring on-Country with Lala.
A Gift That Changes
Futures:
Skylah’s Barker Journey
When Year 9 student, Skylah, made the transition from Darkinjung Barker to the larger Barker College campus, it marked the beginning of a new chapter, one made possible through the generosity of Barker’s donor community.
I was really close with everyone at Darkinjung, we were all friends,” Skylah recalls. “Barker is much bigger, and while I’m not friends with everyone, I’ve met such amazing people and made really close friendships.”
For her mum, Elizabeth, the move was both exciting and daunting. “It was nerve-wracking at first because we knew travel was going to be difficult,” she says. “But the girls (Skylah and sister Kiarah) were excited by their Barker education and those fortnightly visits that gave them a little taste of what the big Barker was like, the facilities, the teachers, the environment. They knew this is where they belonged.”
Elizabeth says she’s seen both Skylah and Kiarah grow in ways she couldn’t have imagined. “They are so grateful for the opportunities they’ve had, not just in sport and academics, but through Barker’s strong focus on pastoral care. It’s allowed them to really thrive in their own individual pursuits.”
One of Skylah’s standout experiences has been Extended Stay, a program that takes students beyond the classroom and into an immersive, community-building journey. “Extended Stay was really fun, just going away with friends,” Skylah smiles. “I even had my birthday while we were away.”
For Elizabeth, the impact of that experience was profound. “As soon as Skylah came back, it was obvious why Barker runs that trip. She returned with a stronger attitude, maturity, and a sense of personal growth. You could see how deeply it shaped her.”
Reflecting on how much the opportunity has meant to her family, Elizabeth shares a heartfelt message for those who make such experiences possible. “I would say that donating to Barker is one of the best investments you could ever make, it’s an investment in the future of our country,” she says. “The growth, the development, and the sense of
aspiration that Skylah and her sister now have… we’re talking about university, about careers in the ADF or as a paramedic, things that wouldn’t have been options without Barker’s support and pastoral care. It’s just phenomenal.”
Thanks to the generosity of Barker’s donors, students like Skylah are not only receiving an education, but they’re also discovering their potential and building futures full of purpose and possibility.
Foundation Travelling Fellowships
Investing in
our staff to keep up to date with the latest thinking
It was a privilege to attend the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children World Conference in Braga, Portugal from 29 July - 2 August 2025.
The theme of the conference was ‘The Power of Gifted Education and Talent Development in a Changing World’ and indeed, the forum brought together researchers and educators to set a global agenda of best practice.
This conference exemplified the transformative power of meaningful learning. It was inspiring to be part of a cross-sector community where expertise was shared with generosity. There was palpable determination to create optimal cultures of learning for gifted learners, no matter their age, background or individual circumstances.
One of the focus areas of the conference was ‘Programming, Curriculum and Pedagogy’. I learnt about differentiated, data-driven teaching and assessment practices, effective classroom questioning techniques, connected literacy
strategies, creativity provocations, and STEM-based activities which develop character through exposing gifted students to ‘productive struggle’, risk-taking and failure. I also learnt about the value of mentoring programs, and programs and processes to support accelerated students.
Another focus area of the conference was ‘Diversity and Equity in Gifted Education’. I benefited from hearing Purdue University present on Gentry’s HOPE scale – a tool used to reverse the inequities in identifying culturally, economically, and linguistically diverse gifted students. I am keen to share this tool with teachers at Darkinjung, Ngarralingayil and Dhupuma so that our Indigenous gifted learners can be identified without a reliance on standardised testing and can benefit from early intervention.
In summary, I bring back to Barker findings relating to differentiated learning design, establishing cultures of creative thinking, collaborating with AI, using culturally responsive tools,
creating socially and emotionally safe enviroanments for gifted learners, and acceleration processes.
I am deeply grateful to the Barker Foundation for this immersive, ‘once in a lifetime’ professional development; the chance to explore a new country, the opportunity to connect with renowned academics and leading practitioners, and the exposure to new knowledge at the forefront of gifted education research is truly a personal and career highlight.
Susanna Matters
K-12 Gifted and Talented Coordinator
This immersive professional development experience has significantly enriched my teaching practice, expanded and deepened my understanding of the Orff approach to music education. The program offered intensive workshops led by internationally renowned educators, focusing on the integration of music, movement, speech, and drama.
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks for the Foundation’s generous support in funding my participation in the ORFF Schulwerk Summer School held in Salzburg, Austria in 2025.
Key workshop topics included body percussion techniques to enhance rhythmic awareness and support musical learning, elemental music strategies for building foundational musical skills, ensemble improvisation to foster creativity and collaboration, and methods for integrating movement with music to support kinesthetic learning.
I gained practical strategies for fostering creativity and collaboration in the classroom, and I have already begun implementing these techniques with our students.
Notably, I have introduced new activities that encourage improvisation and student-led composition, resulting in increased engagement and musical confidence across all year levels.
This experience has reaffirmed my commitment to delivering a dynamic, deeply soulful, valuable and joyful music education program at Barker. I am deeply grateful for the board’s investment in my professional growth, and I look forward to sharing further outcomes.
Elaine Slawski Junior School Head of Co-curricular Music
Inaugural recipient of the Phillip Noyce Performing Arts Scholarship
My time at Barker has been very special and will be something I will forever cherish and look back on fondly.
Being the recipient of the Phillip Noyce Performing Arts Scholarship elevated my time at Barker providing me with great opportunities. However, with these opportunities also came challenges.
I have often told people time from time of the story of my journey in the Barker 2024 school musical, Footloose. To me, it is one of my core memories at Barker that I believe surmises the Drama Department and
somewhat the atmosphere of the School on a whole.
I auditioned for the Footloose musical with experience in singing but never in front of more than one person, my singing teacher. I never thought much of this. However, when I went into my callback audition and was set with the task to sing in front of some of my other peers who were also called back, I froze. I could hardly get out our bars before I had to ask to retry. Somehow, I managed to land a role that I will forever cherish, but my issue regarding singing in front of others remained after I was casted. However, amongst my fears and uncertainties, my peers shone through. They consistently supported me and uplifted me, helping me to face my troubles and fears, pushing me to be comfortable to sing on a stage in front of hundreds.
Through the guidance and encouragement I received as a student on the Phillip Noyce Performing Arts Scholarship and the doors it helped me walk through in Barker Drama, I am fortunate to say I have many other stories such as these where I have been pushed to improve technically and personally.
However, the impact of this Foundation Named Scholarship did not limit itself to the performing arts. I have been fortunate enough through this scholarship to push myself into every aspect of Barker and been constantly supported along the way.
Recently, I have also been given the opportunity to get in contact with Phillip Noyce, a great connection I hope to grow as I begin my acting journey.
Thank you so much for your support and generosity. Barker will remain one of my greatest blessings, a second home to me, and something I enjoyed and loved so very much ranging from my moments with Barker Drama to the relationships formed with my peers and teachers.
Thank you again for helping me along my education journey, I will always be grateful and humbled by this gift.
Scarlett
Jones Year 12 2025
