Our commitments

yallinguth, yalingu, yirramboi

Through this RAP we are committed to support our community to achieve these actions. Our RAP provides a framework for our College Board, executive, staff, students, parents and our broader community. We empower all to look beyond the identified actions and to consider what may be possible in their own practice and how they can initiate opportunities.

Relationships

Elders and Traditional Owners share histories and cultures We are committed to forging a meaningful and ongoing relationship with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders, and people recognised in their community as Traditional Owners. We hope this relationship can be of mutual benefit, and that our local Elders and Traditional Owners will feel safe, and confident, to share their historical and cultural knowledge with our staff, students and children.

Cultural competence for staff We will reflect on our current level of cultural competence and provide staff with a range of opportunities to build and extend their knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Welcome to Country Where appropriate, significant events at our school begin with a Welcome to Country. Protocols for welcoming visitors to Country have been a part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures for thousands of years. By incorporating these protocols into formal events and important occasions, we recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and custodians of their land.

yesterday, today, tomorrow

Respect

Acknowledgement of Country Our school recognises the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the Country on which we live, work, learn and grow. All staff and students have the opportunity to show respect to Traditional Owners and Custodians by regularly conducting an Acknowledgement of Country at meetings and events throughout the year.

Visibly demonstrate respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures We ensure a permanent Acknowledgement of respect for the Country on Beaconhills signage, as an ongoing reminder of the shared history of all Australians. We are committed to flying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags as daily practice. In consultation with Elders, we continue to name spaces around the college with Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung language names.

Celebrate days of national significance We commit to organising and participating in events to celebrate or commemorate days/weeks of national significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the reconciliation movement to show our pride in, and respect for, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures. We also commit to including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives when we commemorate other national days, such as Australia Day and Anzac Day.

RAP launch Our school is proud to launch our RAP at an event that recognises the efforts of the working group and celebrates our school commitment to reconciliation. We will use our RAP launch event to inform the wider community about our RAP and the many different ways they can get involved and take action toward reconciliation.

yallinguth, yalingu, yirramboi

Opportunities

National Quality Standards – early learning specific We commit to ensuring that our engagement with the National Quality Standard includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions in our daily practice and programming, as well as authentic and meaningful engagement with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages We commit to providing students and children with a deeper knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and identities by learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. We acknowledge the importance of language maintenance and revitalisation efforts and will provide students and children with opportunities to learn – or learn about – the First Language of their local area.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses We promote supplier diversity through the College’s competitive practice procurement policy that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses and their employees in the procurement of goods and services. We maintain a list of local, regional, state-based and national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses to accompany procurement policies and procedures.

Integrated curriculum planning as a priority All staff from across the school are supported to understand and embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures in the curriculum. The cross curriculum priority is considered in the development of units, lesson plans and resources in all learning areas and across all year levels. Curriculum documents are audited to identify the extent to which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions are already embedded, and to identify opportunities for strengthening the representation of this content in the curriculum.

Wominjeka scholarships We are committed to providing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to join our College community through the Wominjeka Scholarship Program.