Inclusivity in action

Last year, St Margaret’s adopted ‘inclusivity’ as one of our six expressed values. It was no surprise that through community consultation it shone through as an important value, as it was already such a big part of who we are, no more so than in the boarding house, where we welcome many students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

We have been blessed at St Margaret’s to have welcomed many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to the school over the years. As we embrace Reconciliation, there have been many more events and activities which have brought a greater understanding of our First Nations people to the entire community.

In 2022, the school was recognised for its work in this area when it won the ABSA/ IEBA* Excellence in Indigenous Boarding award. (*Australian Boarding Schools Association/Indigenous Education and Boarding Australia).

Some of the key actions and activities that take place in the boarding house and school wide to further Indigenous education include:

See My Difference

See My Worth Festival

This annual two-day event features a program of rich experiences celebrating the uniqueness of our boarding community. From our rural boarders to our international and First Nations boarders, the weekend features culturally specific activities, where each group share their practices and way of life throughout the festival.

Reconciliation Action Plan Committee

In 2019, the school formed a Reconciliation Action Plan Committee of which First Nations students and Old Girls are members. Their feedback is integral to the plan’s development, and through this, they have found a sense of fulfilment and ownership for being able to be heard and contribute to the plan.

Gidhal and Mulu Maguydan

The impetus for these two anthologies was to harness the enormous potential of our First Nations students to share their stories with the St Margaret’s community. You can read more about these projects on page 27 and also view the publications on the school’s website.

Sharing Cultural Practices With The Primary School

First Nations boarders visit the primary school and talk about their culture and teach traditional dances, a mutually beneficial activity that teaches our youngest students while giving our First Nations students the chance to experience discussing their culture to larger groups and using their voice for advocacy.

Reconciliation And Naidoc Weeks

St Margaret’s Reconciliation and NAIDOC weeks include events and activities that highlight First Nations culture and involve the whole school. Events such as Sorry Day, Mabo Day and Floral Friday focus on cultivating a shared appreciation for First Nations culture for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and nonIndigenous people.

Our First Nations students extend a hand and invite non-Indigenous students to experience their rich culture and partake in significant rituals. These experiences allow our non-indigenous students to listen and learn about the longest living culture and partake in rituals and practices they would not typically have access to. It also allows our First Nations students to advocate for change, use their voice for empowerment of themselves and their people, and have the courage to share part of their life that is so valuable to them.