Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander


KOORIE EDUCATION

Maryborough Education Centre (MEC) acknowledges the Djaara People of the Dja Dja Wurrung, the traditional custodians of the land on which our school stands.  We would like to pay our respects to their elders past, present and future. MEC extends this acknowledgement to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are part of the school community. We acknowledge and support the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

We are proud to acknowledge all of the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students and their families within the MEC community. We want all students and families, to feel celebrated and safe.  We seek and create opportunities to celebrate the strength and the potential of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and our students becoming emerging young leaders within the First Nations Peoples.

Our vision is to provide an engaging educational setting for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and to raise awareness and ensure learning opportunities are provided to all our students. To meet this vision, we aim to develop a curriculum that explores intercultural capability to develop knowledge, skills and understandings to reflect on how cultural beliefs and practices contribute to individual, group and national identities. We aim to continue working in partnership so that students, families, staff and the wider community have a voice.

 

Recent Initiatives

  • Smoking Ceremony to open the MEC Student Induction
  • Koorie student leadership positions
  • Koorie student scholarships
  • Koorie Cultural Space
  • Koorie Kids Shine Program
  • Deadly Attendance Awards
  • Nulderung Youth Mentor Program
  • Nulderung Youth Camp
  • MEC Koorie Teams Portal

 

Future Initiatives

  • Possum Cloak Incursion
  • Interactive Cultural Garden Space
  • Wominjeka Mural and Yarning Circle

MEC is supported by Koorie Engagement Support Officer (KESO) Danni Speak who is a highly respected member of our school community. Danni is a proud member of the local Aboriginal community and holds a deep understanding of Aboriginal culture and the history of the community. Danni provides advice to schools about culturally inclusive learning environments, co-ordination of services to support engagement and improved outcomes for Koorie children and young people.

 

Aboriginal dates of significance:

  • 26 January: Survival Day / Australia Day
  • 13 February: Anniversary of the National Apology
  • 20 March: National Close the Gap Day
  • 26 May: National Sorry Day Learn More
  • 27 May – 3 June: National Reconciliation Week Learn More
  • 3 June: Mabo Day Learn More
  • 1st Sunday in July until the following Sunday: NAIDOC Week Learn More
  • 4 August: National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day Learn More
  • 9 August: International Day of World’s Indigenous People Learn More
  • 10 December: Human Rights Day Learn More

 

MEC students have the opportunity to partner with a variety of local organisations such as Nalderun , BDAC and BADAC

 

External Resources of Interest