Article: Powerful ideas to create relevant schools

Powerful ideas to create relevant schools

NPYWC Directors Nyunmiti Burton, Rene Kulitja & Maureen Baker have all worked within the education system, Nyunmiti is a qualified teacher. The Directors have a very clear idea on important initiatives to increase Anangu engagement with the school system.

The National Dialogue 21 Conference, presented by the Australian Institute for Teaching & School Leadership (ATSL) – was designed to set out standards to improve Indigenous cultural competency in the Australian teaching workforce. Hear what our Directors had to say:

_{Maureen, Rene, Christine & Nyunmiti at the National Dialogue 21 Conference}

Anangu Teachers

Anangu need to be given the chance to lead the classroom. It is not enough to have Anangu in support roles. Anangu teachers are a vital piece of the puzzle in supporting students across language and cultural barriers, understanding the strengths and capacities of individual children. They stand as respected and known members of the child’s community. They know, and can teach bilingual learning.

Curriculum and learning styles

Curriculum needs to be contextually relevant. Providing opportunity for children and young people to learn on country and in the classroom. “Our kids need to learn in their first language and then in English. Then they will be good in Pitjantjatjara and English. Then they can live well in both worlds”, Nyunmiti Burton.

Community Engagement

Key community members want to influence the recruitment and appraisal of key staff such as principals and teachers. They can also care for and educate teachers in the ways of Anangu culture, history and respectful ways to connect with the community, which have a direct benefit for the children and young people.

“Our old people already paved the way forward. When we support Anangu children and young people, everyone benefits”. Rene Kulitja.

_{Images: courtesy of Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership}

Find out about the NPYWC Youth Service

Domestic & Family Violence

Ending violence from the ground up

Ending violence in the community will occur when it is supported and championed by an individual and/or group who will act to lead the change. These are community advocates who are interspersed in the community itself. They are from the community and are positioned as leaders. There must be specific strategies aimed at building their capacity, confidence and skills to influence the hearts and minds of the community.’

_{Strengthening Community Capacity to End Violence Framework (2018)<1>:}

The NPYWC Domestic & Family Violence Service (DFVS) Women’s Advisory Group has met throughout 2021 in communities across the NPY Lands. The group includes DFVS workers, Anangu women and DV practitioners working together to deepen their knowledge on DV issues such as trauma and safe ways to work with women experiencing DV. The group shares stories of strength and explore how communities are showing resistance to violence.

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The group will work alongside the DFVS advising on strategies and the best ways to work with women experiencing DV. Their input will offer the best chance for developing effective responses and pathways.

We are all women here… getting stronger – WAG member

Read: Strengthening Community Capacity to End Violence

Find our more about our Domestic & Family Violence Service

Tjungu

The bureaucrats seemed really devastated...some of them were crying

SETTING UP AUSTRALIA’S FIRST ABORIGINAL DISABILITY SERVICE

At the time (1993), I think only one Anangu was registered as disabled. It was my job to travel out bush to find out who had a disability and what was needed.

I was a bit shocked even though everyone looked happy. They’d say, come and see this, and they would show me people with serious disabilities. That is when Elsie Wanatjura (pictured) jumped on board. She clearly thought that I would get lost and perish in the desert. She jumped on and from then, everywhere I went, she went with me.

People were living in poverty with extremely bad disability support equipment. One man used to walk around with his prosthetic leg under his arm because it didn’t fit anymore. Wheel chairs were not made for the desert and were pretty unusable. People were really in need of some basic things like proper beds.

We saw how hard carers were working, manually lifting people everywhere. Carers were hand washing blankets due to incontinence, they just needed some support.

Elsie and the women were pivotal in getting funding. They invited different government departments from Canberra to the lands. After a really tedious funding meeting Nura Ward all of a sudden got up and said “Everybody come with me.”

She got everybody in the cars and took them to see her mother who was living in what she called the chook shed out the back of a house. Nura stood there and did a massive rave about why was her mother living like this, being pushed around in a wheelbarrow by her family. She went all over Ernabella showing various people in some pretty shocking circumstances – just the poverty – and by the end of it a lot of those bureaucrats, they seemed really devastated. Some of them were crying.

Nura said it was painful for them to do because they were shamed by it, but they made a point of doing it. They said they had never done that before.

Taken from a conversation with Angela Lynch & Elsie Wanatjura

Find out more about the Tjungu Aged & Disability program

NPY Women's Council is grounded in, and continues to live and work on, the sovereign Lands of the Arrernte people, and the Aṉangu and Yarnangu people - the rightful custodians of the Ngaanyatjarra, Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara Lands.

Powerful ideas to create relevant schools

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SETTING UP AUSTRALIA’S FIRST ABORIGINAL DISABILITY SERVICE