Our schools get RAPping

28/05/2021

Principal, Peter Edwards, with San Damiano College foundation students.

The 2021 National Reconciliation Week theme is ‘More than a word. Reconciliation takes action’.

Many of our schools are doing just that, with over 55 schools with draft Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) and over 40 schools attending RAP information sessions in Terms 1 and 2, facilitated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Officer, Erin Dougherty.

Erin said the high number of schools participating in the sessions showed a genuine interest in engaging with reconciliation.

“I think schools understand the importance of authentic engagement with the RAP process,” said Erin.

“By developing a RAP the school is making a commitment to reconciliation and embedding these actions across the school.”

“Having a school RAP helps create a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and staff.”

“But it does more than that. Everyone in the school benefits from having a RAP as it builds greater cultural understanding and community connections to help us all move towards reconciliation,” she said.

One of our newest schools, San Damiano College in Yarrabilba, published a school Reconciliation Action Plan as part of the foundation of the school opening this year.

Principal Peter Edwards said one of the key values of San Damiano College was respect and this was what the RAP was about.

“Recognising and respecting the Yugambeh people, the Traditional Custodians of the Yarrabilba area, is something we wanted to build into our school environment and culture from the start,” said Peter.

“Our Reconciliation Action Plan has allowed us to embed traditions and practices into our new college that pay respect to First Nations’ Peoples and shows us living by our college motto – We Are One in Love.”

If you are interested in creating a school Reconciliation Action Plan, please contact either Erin Dougherty or Liz Kupsch our Education Officers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education who can assist in developing the RAP in partnership with Narragunnawali.

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