My week as an Anna First Nations curriculum inclusion

My week as an Anna

By Sarah Dawkins

Sarah Dawkins was the 2020 SSTUWA participant in the Anna Stewart Memorial Project. She shares her experiences below.

The Anna Stewart Memorial Project is so much more than a usual professional development course. I had an inspiring and moving week with a circle of women I admired and learnt so much from.

It became very apparent to me that gender equality is part of a broader context of equity and that it is not just for feminists. It is about any minority group or vulnerable group having an equal playing field in the workplace and in being valued by society at large. I met leaders in all industries, including a minister and multiple union leaders and activists.

I attended a rally that got a bill passed the next night for industrial manslaughter. I toured Parliament House and marvelled at the artworks on display from around Western Australia.

I particularly admired the Indigenous artwork in the rooms and corridors. I went out and met women holding important positions making differences everywhere. A favourite was visiting Brentwood Primary School and meeting with principal Donna Bridge (pictured right with Sarah), whose school atmosphere was tangibly positive, creative and had visible evidence of students having a strong sense of identity and belonging. The whole week was full of good surprises and networking with such interesting women, who were really making great strides in varied fields, including Indigenous cultural awareness programs and male-dominated industries.

It was also a great opportunity to meet all the SSTUWA staff members and see all the great work going on behind the scenes. This program impacted on me in a profound way and I found new courage and confidence to tackle new goals and encourage those around me to do the same.

Nominations open for SSTUWA scholarship programs

The Anna Stewart Memorial Project is a week-long development program, during which women from diverse workplaces and occupations spend time together discussing work and issues that affect them.

The project is a memorial to former union official Anna Stewart, who passed away in 1983, aged 35. There is no charge for attending the course but participants do need to apply through their union for paid leave to attend or make other leave arrangements with the employer. This year’s Anna Stewart Memorial Project will run from 11-15 October. The deadline for expressions of interest is 4pm, 3 September 2021. The Lynette Virgona Scholarship is also open for applications. The annual scholarship of $1,500 is available to assist a member of the SSTUWA to take up training or professional development opportunities to develop their own skills and abilities in the areas of student behaviour and/or instructional strategies. It was established by the SSTUWA in memory of Lynette, who died of cancer in 2013 while serving as an Executive member of the SSTUWA and a branch councillor of the AEU(WA) Branch.

As well as serving at Executive level, Lynette was a representative at branch level, District Council, State Council and on SSTUWA committees. Lynette was trained as a Teacher Consultant under the Behaviour Management and Discipline (BMAD) project which morphed into the CMS Program.

This project evolved as an initiative between the department and the union and has been covered in Agreements since its inception.

The deadline for applications for the Virgona scholarship is 4pm, Friday 27 August 2021.

For more information and application forms for either scholarship program visit sstuwa.org.au/scholarships