Forrest Primary School Acknowledgement of Country
‘We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.’
We pay our respects to the Ngunnawal people.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge of the land where we meet today.
We will care for this land, animals, plants and people too.
We respect the land (hands touching the ground)
We respect the sky (hands in the air)
We respect each other (hands to the side, palms facing out)
Cultural integrity
As an ACT Education Directorate public school, we are committed to developing staff capability to identify, challenge and question their own cultural assumptions, values and beliefs. We seek to provide an organisational culture where individual strengths are honoured and validated, and where individuals contribute to a dynamic, reflective and responsive school or workplace.
Supporting our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to reach their potential is a key focus for our Directorate.
Cultural integrity across all ACT public schools and the Education Support Office helps to achieve this. The implementation of cultural integrity means our schools will:
- be culturally safe places for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, families and staff
- be accountable for meeting the aspirations, learning and wellbeing needs of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- develop all staff and students’ understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, languages and knowledge systems through professional learning and curriculum delivery
- develop and maintain genuine, collaborative and respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents, families, local community members, service providers and agencies
- actively represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions to contemporary society in their physical infrastructure and online presence
- support and provide opportunities for all staff to build their knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, languages and knowledge systems
- regularly evaluate and refine their practices to ensure that cultural integrity is achieved and retained
Learn more about Cultural integrity in ACT Public Schools.
Forrest Primary Culture Club
The Indigenous Culture Club is held weekly, coordinated by our Indigenous Education Officer, Joe Chapman-Smith.
Culture Club is facilitated in partnership with staff, parents, carers and community members. Parents/carers, staff and community members are encouraged to share their culture and heritage with the students. We organise an arts, literature and environment programme to support the children to connect with their mob, Forrest Country, local history and heritage. Culture Club students take leadership roles in organising and presenting the Harmony Day, Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week Assemblies. Our Indigenous Learning Support Assistant visits classes to share Indigenous perspectives for the PYP units of inquiry and the Culture Club.
The ACT Education Directorate’s Cultural Integrity Policy provides schools with the opportunity for all of us to come together to share, learn and grow in the spirit of reconciliation to recognise the important place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history has in our community.