To Mark the Partnership Agreement Signing, a Ceremony Will Be Held at Gorokan Public School

NationalReconciliation Week started on 27th May. This week marks the anniversary of the referendum in which more than 90% of Australians voted to remove clauses from the Australian Constitution which discriminated against Indigenous Australians and gave the Commonwealth Government the power to make laws on behalf of Aboriginal people. This year’s theme is Reconciliation: let’s see it through…together! This reflects the recently renewed Partnership Agreement with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG), articulating how the NSW AECG and the NSW DET are planning on working together.

On Thursday, 3rd June, the Wallarah Area Learning Community schools, comprising of Gorokan High School, Gorokan Public School, Toukley Public School, Northlakes High School, Blue Haven Public School, Budgewoi Public School and Northlakes Public School, will each sign the new Partnership Agreement with our local A.E.C.G., MuruBulbi.

The Wallarah Area Learning Community schools educates 549Aboriginal students and provides support for them and their families.

To mark the Partnership Agreement signing, a ceremony will be held at Gorokan Public School.

The Gorokan High School didgeridoo group, the Northlakes High School, Blue Haven Public School and Northlakes Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Group, and the Wallarah Area Learning Community Primary Koori Choir (Gorokan Public School, Toukley Public School and Budgewoi Public School) will all perform.

To witness the signing, special guests such as Cindy Berwick (State President of the A.E.C.G.) and Robyn McKerihan (Regional Director of the Department of Education and Training Hunter / Central Coast schools) will be attending.

The Partnership Agreement between the NSW Department of Education and Training (DET) and the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc. (NSW AECG) is based on the principles of respect, commitment,collaboration and accountability in order to improve educational and training outcomes for Aboriginal learners.

The Agreement being signed on Thursday between our local AECG (MuruBulbi) and each individual school in our area is based on a genuine and practical approach to working together. The Partnership Agreement has three key messages:

Together We Are committed to providing Aboriginal people with opportunities to be actively involved through collaborative processes and we will listen and respond to the academic and vocational needs of Aboriginal students with rigour, accountability and cultural respect.....

Together We Can ensure that we value and respect the viewpoints and contribution of Aboriginal families and communities as we strive for equity and excellence by working together to improve education and training outcomes for Aboriginal students.....

Together We Will succeed in providing learning environments that contribute to Aboriginal students becoming more confident, more creative and more able to excel so that they lead satisfying, productive and responsible lives that enable their contribution to the prosperity and well-being of their families and communities.....

Reconciliation Week ends on the 3rd June. It is also the anniversary of the High Court’s judgement in the Mabo case recognizing the native title rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and overturned the myth of terra nullius.

It is significant that the Wallarah Area Learning Community schools and the MuruBulbi A.E.C.G. sign their Partnership Agreement on this date, showing their commitment to working together for the best educational and social outcomes for all Aboriginal students in their care.

The official signing of the Partnership Agreement between the AECG and individual schools in the Wallarah Area Learning Community will be held on Thursday 3rd June 2010 at Gorokan Public School hall commencing at 9.30am. All parents, caregivers and community members are welcome to attend.