Indigenous Program
Acknowledgement Of Country
St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School acknowledges and pays tribute to the Whadjuk Noongar people, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are located, and we pay our respects to their Elders – past, present and future.
We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have contributed and continue to contribute to our national identity.
St Mary’s recognises and values the continuity of cultural, educational and spiritual practices of First Nations Peoples and prays for the success of the continuing journey towards reconciliation.
St Mary’s has been the school of choice for Indigenous girls for many years. While most of our Indigenous students are boarders, there are some who attend as day students in our Junior and Senior Schools. Run by our Indigenous Student Coordinator, our Indigenous Program provides pastoral and academic support to our Indigenous students while strengthening the girls’ understanding of their culture. The program also enriches our School community, as it provides a platform for our Indigenous students to share their traditions, stories and learnings with fellow students, members of staff and the extended St Mary’s family.
Reconciliation Action Plan
St Mary’s has long held a deep respect for the rich cultural heritage of Australia’s First Nations peoples. With a proud tradition of supporting Indigenous students and celebrating the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, the School is now taking a significant step forward in its commitment to reconciliation. In 2024, we launched our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), a blueprint for fostering meaningful and lasting connections with Indigenous Australians while further embedding the values of reconciliation into the fabric of our School community.
Our RAP, which will guide the school from 2024 to 2026, reflects St Mary’s dedication not only to acknowledging the past but also shaping a more inclusive and equitable future. The School proudly recognises that its Karrinyup campus is located on the land of the Whadjuk Noongar people and that St Mary’s at Metricup: The Lady Treatt Centre for Learning and Leadership, is situated on the land of the Wardandi people. These lands have been, and continue to be, under the spiritual and cultural custodianship of the Whadjuk Noongar and Wardandi peoples respectively. St Mary’s honours this legacy and seeks to deepen its understanding and connection with our First Nations peoples, who have cared for these lands for thousands of years.
The School’s guiding values of Courage, Respect, Aspiration, Compassion and Integrity are the foundation of our RAP, with each playing a crucial role in steering the School’s journey towards reconciliation.
Our RAP is not just a document; it is a living, breathing commitment to fostering a school community where all individuals – Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike – can learn, grow and thrive together. As we move forward with our Reconciliation Action Plan, we do so with the hope that these efforts will contribute to a future marked by healing, wholeness and unity for all.
Indigenous Student Coordinator
Our Indigenous Student Coordinator, Kate Dawson, is responsible for creating a safe and supportive environment for our Indigenous students.
Her primary role is to act as an approachable and readily accessible point of contact, who is available to discuss the girls’ wellbeing, academic progress and personal development.
Kate meets with the girls on a regular basis to build a sense of identity within our Indigenous student cohort, plan group activities and projects, and create a safe space for the girls to raise any concerns that they might have. She is responsible for monitoring the girls’ academic progress and arranging additional support when it is needed.
Kate also advises our teachers about how to best support our Indigenous students academically and facilitates professional learning activities to broaden our staff’s understanding of Indigenous culture and traditional practices.
Scholarships
St Mary’s participates in a scholarship program run by MADALAH Limited, a not-for-profit organisation that offers secondary and tertiary education scholarships to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from remote and regional communities.
Our MADALAH scholarship recipients enjoy frequent visits from MADALAH Mentors, who deliver tailored educational sessions and provide students with an opportunity to talk about their schooling experiences and future aspirations.
Scholars are also afforded opportunities to participate in activities and events with students from other local MADALAH Limited partner schools.
To learn more about MADALAH Limited’s scholarships, please visit madalah.com.au or contact our Enrolments Team on (08) 9341 9121.
Future Footprints Program
St Mary’s is one of 18 schools that participate in the Association of Independent Schools Western Australia’s Future Footprints Program.
This was established in 2004 to ensure positive engagement of Indigenous students within the education system, to enhance Indigenous students’ sense of belonging and self-worth in school settings, and provide them with the confidence, knowledge and skills to succeed in their academic and life pursuits. Future Footprints is based on an Aboriginal Family Model of peer support and leadership.
The broad aim of the program is to improve educational outcomes for Indigenous students and enhance their post-school prospects, whether that be in tertiary studies, training or employment.
Each year, Future Footprints coordinates several initiatives and events that bring together Indigenous students from participating schools. Future Footprints also helps schools establish their own Indigenous programs.
NAIDOC Week
Our Indigenous students take great pride in leading St Mary’s NAIDOC Week celebrations, which are dedicated to recognising the rich history, culture and achievements of our First Nations people.
Working with our Indigenous Student Coordinator, the girls run a series of activities across our Junior and Senior Schools to enhance our entire School community’s understanding and appreciation of Indigenous culture.
Some of those activities have included:
• The creation of traditional sand murals
• Producing traditional artworks with Junior and Senior School students
• Teaching fellow students traditional songs and dances
• Hosting cultural awareness seminars
• Cooking and sharing bush tucker with staff and students
The week of celebration culminates in a whole-school assembly held around our Indigenous students’ sand mural. Past assemblies have featured Welcome to Country and smoking ceremonies conducted by Noongar Elders, traditional musical and dance performances, and inspiring addresses by Elders, guest speakers, students and staff.
