Walawaani njindiwan - Welcome everybody.

The team at Gooroon has been kept busy by the big number of new enrolments in Year 7 in 2021. It is wonderful to welcome 24 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to St John’s and to help them settle into high school.

Our cultural programs have also benefited from increased interest as students and staff continue to learn about the world’s oldest continuous culture.

The Anniversary of the National Apology Day was marked earlier this term. It is very interesting to note the recent events in Victoria. The Yoo-rrook Justice Commission will be the nation’s first truth telling process and has been developed through partnership between the Victorian Government and First Nations Peoples. In pursuing treaty, the government is committed to acknowledging the truth of Victoria’s history and laying the foundations for new, positive relationships between the State, Aboriginal Victorians and non-Aboriginal Victorians. Is the rest of Australia watching? Are we watching? Click here for details.  

National Close the Gap Day was marked on Thursday 18 March. Students and staff from Gooroon presented an item on assembly to describe the campaign and to highlight why this initiative is still so necessary in 2021.

Close the Gap was initiated in 2007 as a collaboration between Australia’s Health and other public organisations. The aim was to reduce disadvantage among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in terms of life expectancy, access to education, and employment opportunities. Unfortunately, only two of the original seven targets were met by 2020. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples still face barriers when accessing health care and the infant mortality rate is twice that of the rest of the community.

In 2020, the government restructured Close the Gap to give stakeholders a much greater influence over the direction of the initiative. It now provides a genuine partnership between Australian governments and the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations (the Coalition of Peaks). The views and expertise of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including Elders, Traditional Owners and Native Title holders, communities and organisations will continue to provide central guidance to the Coalition of Peaks and Australian governments as the National Agreement is implemented.

What can ‘ordinary’ Australians do to support the Close the Gap initiative? Support efforts to Close the Gap, educate yourself about unequal health outcomes and promote Close the Gap in your community. Click here or see https://www.closingthegap.gov.au/ for more information.

All families are invited to drop in to Gooroon on Wednesday 31 March between 3pm-4pm. This coincides with Parent/Teacher interviews. We would love to see all parents and students, but a special invitation is extended to new families for 2021. Join us for a cuppa, meet the team and find out more about the role of Gooroon in supporting students and promoting culture at St John’s.