Catholic education leaders, principals, staff, parents, and students are gathering this week for the triennial 2024 Catholic Schools NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Conference.
The triennial event, jointly hosted by Catholic Schools NSW and Armidale Catholic Schools, will be held on 22-24 October in the heart of NSW’s New England Region, Tamworth.
Throughout the three-day event, varied presentations, workshops, and on-country experiences will advance attendees’ professional knowledge and skills through an understanding of Aboriginal culture and how its rich well of resources can advance the educational, cultural, and economic wellbeing of Aboriginal peoples.
Tied together under the theme Spirit on Country – Learning Together Then, Now and Always, the conference highlights include a deep dive into the practical implications of NSW Curriculum Reform’s explicit inclusion of Aboriginal histories and cultures across all syllabuses, a visit to the Myall Creek Massacre site, and keynote presentations from leading Aboriginal voices.
Guest speakers include award-winning author Anita Heiss, Professor of Communications at the University of Queensland and an Ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, Nathan Towney, Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Strategy and Leadership at the University of Newcastle, and Greg Inglis, former NRL star and founder of the Goanna Academy, Australia’s first indigenous owned and designed mental health education provider.
“Spirit on Country provides a special occasion for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples across the dioceses and RI/MPJP schools in NSW to gather, connect, and learn,” Catholic Schools NSW chief Dallas McInerney said.
“It is about bringing Australians together through education, as education plays a vital role in closing the gap.
“A shared appreciation of context and history creates a foundation for Australia to build a shared future in which the boundless opportunities of our great nation are available to all.
“Events such as these provide an opportunity to inspire people, and ultimately leave them well-equipped with the knowledge and skills to empower Aboriginal students.”
Armidale Catholic Schools director Regina Menz said the conference theme, “Spirit on Country: Learning Together, then, now, always” highlights the “rich Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture found in our system of schools”.
It is encapsulated in the stories of elders and families in our communities who are deeply connected physically and spiritually to the land.
FULL STORY
Catholic education leaders gather to close the gap in education (Catholic Schools NSW)
