Page 19 - Inspire Magazine

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Students have individual learning plans, students and can say to them ‘I’m there, I’m
participate in tutorial sessions and are involved in doing it, I’m living it’.”
cultural and academic excursions. They complete Jade Dolman is one former student taking
an annual research project linked to cultural, on a leadership role and mentoring younger
historical and social topics of significance, and students. She’s the third generation of her
take part in community projects. family to go to the school – her mother is news
Of last year’s 15 Aboriginal students in Year presenter Narelda Jacobs and her grandfather is
12, all achieved their WA Certificate of Education. the Reverend Cedric Jacobs. Jade is now helping
Of these, 11 students went on to study at university, students paint a Baldja Maarakool mural on the
one was offered a place at the WA Academy of school grounds.
Performing Arts and another won a basketball “My time at Mount Lawley Senior High 3
scholarship to the Australian College of Sport School allowed me to get a different perspective,
in Melbourne. not just as a student but as a leader,” she says. WA Premier’s Excellence in Aboriginal
“We set high goals but we focus on the small “It’s also had an impact on me since I left – in Education Award finalists
steps for each student to succeed,” says Aboriginal leadership roles I have taken on and the way I (1) Bayulu Remote Community School
(2) Balga Senior High School
Excellence Program coordinator Phil Paioff. work and study.”
“Many of the students come here Milton says staff have spent time mapping WA Premier’s Excellence in Aboriginal
without having a strong understanding of where the school is in terms of the Aboriginal Education Award winner
(3) Mount Lawley Senior High School
their Aboriginality or identify as strongly as Cultural Standards Framework.
they possibly could in terms of their cultural “It’s about setting the conditions – we want
backgrounds and how they all link. to see what we have to do to improve the whole
“Early on we take them to Edith Cowan school,” he says.
University to see the Rock Solid Foundations. This For Phil, the education of Aboriginal
is a tribute to the university’s Aboriginal alumni students is a core focus.
and the granites there list hundreds of Aboriginal “When students leave here I would like them
people who have graduated from the university. to reflect fondly on the fact that they were part
Our students get that sense of success.” of a group and they have a stronger sense of who
Bridgid says she wants students to come back they are, what they are about and where they
to school once they graduate. want to go,” he says.
“I’m trying to create a circle of independence And it sounds like that is exactly what
where these kids give back,” she says. “I encourage is happening.
them to come back and be tutors for the Year 10
students. They are role models for the younger Platinum partner

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