News
On Monday, 8 May the Berry Street School will officially be launching its second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) through Reconciliation Australia’s Narragunnawali program.
Over several years, Senior Manager – Aboriginal Services, Sarah Dawson played a key role in supporting the Berry Street School to grow, develop and reflect on their reconciliation in education journey.
Our second RAP is a result of months of planning by the RAP Working Group, which revised and built upon the first RAP. Our second RAP has an increased focus on cultural safety, connection to Country, anti-racism and allyship, and the voice and agency of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
To reach our vision for reconciliation, we are committed to:
- cultural safety
- anti-racism and allyship
- establishing and maintaining relationships with community
- cultural learning for all students and staff
- cultural Plans that prioritise connection to Country and community
- celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures all year
- prioritising voice and agency of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
When you read the RAP, you will notice the beautiful student artworks created by Trent Frost (Gunaikurnai and Barkindji), Bek Wright (Gunaikurnai) and Cayleb Martin (Gunaikurnai) on Gunaikurnai Country, with support from local artist Montana McStay. Each artwork tells a story for the student.
For the official launch, each Berry Street School campus will begin with a Welcome to Country on Yorta Yorta, Wadawurrung, Bunurong and Gunaikurnai Country. Community members from each Country have been invited to attend. This will be followed by an online event that will be hosted by Sarah Dawson. Berry Street School teacher, Mel Hoffman has supported a team of students to produce a video that captures footage at each campus and highlights students’ sharing what reconciliation means to them. Michael Perusco will also be in attendance as well as other members of Berry Street’s Executive Director team. Following the online event, each campus will host a morning tea that features food from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander businesses.
