Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong is committed to working in partnership with families and community in welcoming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and supporting them to strive to reach their full potential and to embrace their culture and identity. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education serves two distinct purposes:

• To ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are able to see themselves, their identities and their cultures reflected in the curriculum of each of the learning areas, and can fully participate in the curriculum and build their self-esteem.
• To ensure that all students can understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures in order to engage in reconciliation, respect and recognition of the world’s oldest continuous living cultures.

  Download Aboriginal & Torres Strait islander families Welcome brochure

Our Catholic systemic schools are greatly influenced by the life and culture of Aboriginal communities and continue to pay respect to Elders past and present. Every school proudly flies the Aboriginal flag and displays numerous acknowledgements and artworks to remind everyone of this cultural and historical significance, and together commit to building a reconciled and just Australia.

Our commitment to acknowledgement, inclusion and reconciliation has contributed to the rapid growth in enrolments in our schools from students who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, with numbers more than tripling in the past ten years.
 

HOW DO I ENROL MY CHILD IN A CATHOLIC SCHOOL?

To enrol your child in a Catholic school you can contact:

• the Principal of your local Catholic school  (Find your local school here)
• the Diocesan Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Officer
• one of our  Aboriginal Education Assistants (AEAs) or Aboriginal Community Engagement Officers (ACEOs)

WHAT IS PROVIDED?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families are provided with:

• inclusive learning and teaching experiences that value and enhance knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
• support through personalised learning plans that are developed in partnership with parents/carers, the child and their teacher(s)
• support from the Diocesan Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Officer
• support from Aboriginal Education Assistants (AEAs) and Aboriginal Community Engagement Officers (ACEOs) involved with schools;
  
• opportunities for family and community members to be involved in the sharing of culture and appropriate knowledge with their child's school community that builds respect, partnership, recognition and reconciliation.
• opportunity to privately discuss reduced school fees and costs with the principal of your local Catholic School, with the support of the Diocesan Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Officer (see contact details below).
  
  

CONTACT FOR ABORIGINAL EDUCATION

KARAN TAYLOR 
Diocesan Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Officer 
Strategic Planning & Policy
Office of the Director 
E: taylork01@dow.catholic.edu.au
Ph: (02) 4253 0844 

Return to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education landing page