Indigenous Program

Indigenous Program

It has been a busy year with the boys involved in many new initiatives.

A Pastoral Care Group period for the Indigenous students was introduced at Trinity College for the first time. It proved to be very beneficial and allowed administrative matters to be much more efficiently handled. Organisation of activities became a much easier task particularly where excursions were involved.

A parent committee was formed and with the help of PSPI funding and the Trinity College Indigenous Education Plan was summarised and brought up to date before being presented to the Leadership team of the College. By having a facilitator the process was made much simpler. Many thanks to all the parents who gave of their time for this project.

Homework classes once again operated with all of the boys taking advantage of this opportunity. These classes, together with the support of tutors, provided students with the time and support they needed to keep up with their work.

Careers Days at ECU and Murdoch University gave the boys the chance to explore the many career opportunities available to them and the various avenues available to attain their goal. All the presenters were most helpful and I hope it has given the boys inspiration to follow their dreams. A new literacy program called “The Sound Way to Reading, Writing and Spelling” was introduced this year and its benefits were immediately apparent. Thanks to Mrs Coleman for running this 35 lesson course which was very comprehensive and proved to be of great help to all boys who participated in the program.

One of the most exciting parts of this year’s program were the camps held at Camp Kelly in Dwellingup. Year 8 and 9 boys were the first to have the chance to complete workshops at the Forest Heritage Centre, the Australian School of Fine Wood and also carry out maintenance work on the Olive Grove. Both groups had the task of completing jewellery boxes. The boys are to be congratulated for their efforts and to see the proud look on their faces was very satisfying. Many thanks to Mr Duckett for his organisation of these camps, Mr Kevin Dawson for conducting the workshops and finally to Alcoa for their sponsorship.

Added to this was the multi-media which enabled boys to produce their own DVD of all the activities completed while on camp.

Indigenous Program

Our Indigenous boys did themselves proud in the way they took responsibility for running the Naidoc Assembly. Congratulations to the following boys for their participation in this assembly. Callum Morich (MC), John Robert Gallagher (outstanding solo dance performance), Jack Bin Sali, Katyn Culbong and Rhys Morich (flag bearers), Sam Vale (Welcome to Country), Tom Betts and Reece Garlett (Prayers and tribute to Fr Michael McMahon). Thank you to the parents who were able to attend this assembly and support the boys.

A very successful Reconciliation Day was held at UWA with the boys mixing in with students from other schools and participating in some fun activities. Thanks must go to the Indigenous Department at the University.

To conclude the year a Student Transition was held for all our new students for 2009. This gave the boys a chance to see how the school operates, meet some new friends and make the start to next year a much easier process.

Many thanks to all the Teaching Assistants who have helped the boys this year and to Annabel Dove, the Aboriginal Teaching Assistant, for her help with this year’s program.

Mr Gary Malarkey

Indigenous Student Program Coordinator

Indigenous Program