Wesley College launched its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) at a NAIDOC Celebration Breakfast in July.
“At Wesley, we are committed to shaping and living a reconciled future where non-Indigenous and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples enter into a deep relationship with one another, forged by mutual respect, equality and shared histories,” said Wesley College Headmaster, Ross Barron.
“Up until now, Wesley’s steps in advancing reconciliation have been organic, evolving and developing as our Moorditj Mob program evolved and developed.
“However, this important document, the RAP, allows us to extend our existing initiatives and continue our journey in a structured way that is embedded in all aspects of college life.”
The Moorditj Mob is Wesley College’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program. Wesley offers approximately 30-40 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander scholarships. Students are invited to celebrate their culture and to share it with others. One of the most well-known and public aspects of the program is the Moorditj Mob Dancers and didgeridoo players. The Moordit Mob has been known to perform up to 60 dances annually both at the college and at outside community events.
Wesley College’s RAP is based on the three key areas outlined by Reconciliation Australia: Respect, Relationships, and Opportunities. Mathew Irving, Deputy Head and Chair of the RAP has led the collaborative 18-month process that has been developed with students, teachers, community members and with the support of Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education.
“Reconciliation is a matter of the heart for each person. It is about celebrating the cultures, languages, practices and stories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and forging a reconciled future of mutual respect, equality, and truthtelling in and out of the classroom,” he said.