Immersion Experiences Words by Gemma McDermott and Felicity Knobel
The most interesting thing that I found was how the local culture and knowledge was so connected to the season and land. It was a new way of seeing the country we live in.” Mr Tim Huf
Right: students arrive at Xavier Catholic College in the Tiwi Islands.
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Tiwi Island Immersion Experience Loreto College Ballarat is committed to developing positive and mutually beneficial relationships with Indigenous Communities through immersive experiences. The Loreto values are at the very heart of these experiences and particularly in 2023, the year of Justice. Immersions provide a powerful transformational experience and can help students better understand their world and the role they have in it. During May, 11 Year 10 students and three staff members from Loreto College embarked on an experience of a lifetime to Tiwi Islands with Catholic Mission Facilitator, Bernadette Sullivan. After spending two days in Darwin visiting Nungalinya College, a place that embraces and empowers Indigenous Christians through leadership courses on Art, Faith and Wellbeing, the group caught a ferry to Bathurst Island in Tiwi. Once on the island we spent eight days immersed in the daily runnings of Xavier
Catholic College and parts of the local community. On Tiwi it is a known fact there are two religions, their Catholic faith and AFL, so it was a wonderful opportunity for the students and staff to experience a few games of local footy. Over the week the Loreto College students got to know a lot of the local children who attended the College. They experienced classes in the preschool, primary and secondary areas of the school and looked forward to every afternoon, after the final bell, to play on the oval with the primary school children. The students learned a great deal about Indigenous culture and the Tiwi people, who belong to one of the oldest Indigenous communities. Before leaving, we were invited to a women’s yarn circle where there was singing and dancing as part of a traditional farewell. Some students would like to return to Tiwi when they leave school, as the adventure proved to be life changing. They have expressed how grateful they are for the opportunity and are richer for the experience.
