Latest News

Three youth forums were held recently in Whyalla and Adelaide for Aboriginal students to explore being thriving people, capable learners and leaders in our schools and communities, themes outlined in CESA’s Living, Learning, Leading Framework.  

Attended by 122 Secondary students of Aboriginal background and their teachers from 20 CESA schools, the sessions were facilitated and supported by CESA’s Aboriginal Education Team as well as Consultants from CESA’s Aboriginal Cultural Residency Program.

The forums were an opportunity for students to meet with and get to know other Aboriginal students in Catholic schools, allowing them to talk, share their stories and be a part of a day in community with each other.

The students shared the importance of family and cultural knowledge and the opportunity to discuss ideas for reconciliation and proposals for constitutional recognition highlighted in the Youth Imagination Declaration from the 2019 Garma Festival.

“It’s about thriving people, indigenous people coming together and learning more about culture”, said Year 7 Cardijn College student Ziggy, sharing her thoughts on what the day was about for her.

Activities included a greeting ceremony with Kaurna-Meyunna Cultural Custodian, artist and educator Karl Telfer, art with award winning South Australian Aboriginal visual artists Anna Dowling and Chris Crebbin, and dance and music with young Kaurna-Meyunna man Karno Martin, who is currently a Marine Education Trainee at Star of the Sea School’s Marine Discovery Centre at Henley Beach.

Group discussions around leadership were led by Jonathan Lindsay-Tjapaltjarri Hermawan, a qualified teacher and education consultant who provides youth leadership training throughout Australia and Adelaide-born artist Anna Dowling about her story and student life.

Students were given the opportunity to present their ideas and insights to senior CESA leaders. Dr Neil McGoran, Director of Catholic Education SA, asked students about the nature and strength of their connection to their school and friends, their sense of belonging in Catholic Education and their learning strengths.

“There are three things we aim to achieve in our schools. The first is ‘identity’. I believe in this strongly as the whole point of education; the coming to understand who you are as a person, your cultural connection and who you imagine yourself to be in the future. The second thing is ‘belonging’. What I hope is that every young person in our schools feels like they belong in our schools. The third is ‘liberating’. It’s about our society liberating each of us into a new way of seeing each other and respecting each other, and understanding what equality and justice really mean”, said Neil McGoran in a talk with students.

Mrs Nichii Marden, Director of Catholic Education Port Pirie shared her leadership journey in Catholic Education and her deep sense of connection to place and the importance of this to her wellbeing.

One of the forums was attended by South Australian Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People, Ms April Lawrie. April shared her stories of her childhood, learning journey and the work she does as Commissioner.

Artist Chris Crebbin painted a colourful canvas at each forum, reflecting deep connections between the natural landscape and people in the past and as story for the future together.

Illustrators Georgina Chadderton and Jake Holmes reflected the students’ thoughts and ideas on a mural at each session, creating montages around the themes of belonging, respect, connection, friendship, family and culture.

Staff from the Catholic schools who attended had the opportunity to spend time with Kaurna-Meyunna Cultural Custodian Karl Telfer and explore the history and ecology of the River Torrens and surrounds.

Some strong messages emerged from all three forum days about the importance of family in learning, sharing and keeping cultural knowledge, the importance of sharing stories and the importance of learning history and culture.