Indigenous program

This year, we attempted to raise awareness of the Indigenous education program within the wider school community, to show how it continues to grow and strengthen. The seven boarding Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) scholarship students and five day students, embraced the many different aspects of school life and demonstrated a determination and resilience to pursue their education.

The theme for Reconciliation Week was ‘Don’t Keep History a Mystery’, and our speakers entertained with stories from their own lives and of their ancestors. The guest speaker at the senior school was Phillipa McDermott, an alumni of St Catherine’s and the Head of Indigenous Employment and Diversity at the ABC. Phillipa remarked on the huge changes to the school and kept everyone amused with her anecdotes of being the only Indigenous student back in the 1970s.

“Reconciliation Week is an extremely important and significant week for the St Catherine’s community as it encourages all students and staff, to come together and learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history. This year, I had the privilege to talk at the junior school Reconciliation Week assembly. I shared the story of my grandfather Charles Perkins and the influence he had on the 1967 referendum in conjunction with the importance of Indigenous culture and diversity. Although we celebrate Reconciliation Week, I believe we should strive for reconciliation among Aboriginal and nonAboriginal people everyday to further strengthen our community and educate about Indigenous culture.”

Miah Madden, Year 11

NAIDOC festivities at St Catherine’s are always fun and exciting, and this year’s was definitely one to remember. All K–12 students came together in recognition and celebration of both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, swapping their usual navy blue for the colours of the symbolic cultural flags. Famous singer and actress Christine Anu visited to provide everyone with some insight on her culture, as well as getting everybody on their feet and raising their voices to her most popular hits.

Eden Timbery, Year 9

My experience at the service education trip to Cape York in Term 4, taught me to count my blessings and not take everything for granted. It taught me to really appreciate what I have. The people I met I will never forget. Overall I enjoyed my experience because it showed me the value and importance of education and how it can change lives.

Lailah Prince, Year 10

Three Year 12 students from the south coast, Summer-Sky Dann, Tanaya Williams and Kaleena Braddick completed their HSC this year. Their road to the HSC had not been easy but in September, under the lights of Luna Park, they celebrated their Year 12 graduation with the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF).

“Graduating from St Catherine’s, and potentially going to university, has given me more opportunities than I could have imagined. It has inspired me to be a role model for my younger siblings, as I have shown there is more to life than what they know. I hope I have created a pathway for them to follow, so they can become successful and good leaders for the community.”

Kaleena Braddick, Year 12