By Jed Lanyon
Healesville Primary School’s Culture for Life program has been acknowledged as a HART Award finalist for 2021.
The HART Awards recognise local Victorian initiatives and champions that make a real difference in their community and that contribute to local reconciliation outcomes.
Finalists were named for initiatives that demonstrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Aboriginal people working together and programs that have contributed to relationships, respect and understanding and demonstrate a commitment to Aboriginal self-determination.
Wurundjeri woman and Healesville Primary School teacher Brooke Wandin has been running the Culture for Life program at the school and said it was “wonderful” to have the school recognised.
“Without being too confident, I feel pretty strongly that other schools in the region aren’t doing this type of work on a regular basis,” she said.
Recently Ms Wandin spoke to Heaesville’s Grade 5/6s about upcoming Reconciliation Week.
“We talked about how in Australia, there’s two very different versions of our history and Reconciliation Week is about trying to build an understanding and respect for all people in Australia and particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people.
“Then with the preppies, we have fun. We’ve been learning a lot and we’ve done a lot in Woiwurrung language and teaching the children how to say an Acknowledgement of Country, which is really cute.”
Ms Wandin said hearing children call out to say hello in Woiwurrung language each morning as a highlight of her day.
“It feels really lovely to share that knowledge with the children, where my dad and his family went to school,” she said.
“Really, it’s to plant a seed and allow the kids to be curious about Aboriginal people and want to know more. I really think if we give children knowledge and curiosity, I really think they can change our society when they’re older”
She said that she didn’t learn about Indigneous culture in her primary school days and hopes that the children of today can go home and share their knowledge with their parents.
“I feel like we’ve got a long way to go as an entire nation to accept our brutal history, but I tell you, the kids have such a good sense of justice and it’s just a pleasure to teach them really.
Ms Wandin said Healesville Primary School and principal Tracey Robertson-Smith had been very supportive of the Culture for Life program.
Winners of the HART Awards receive $1000 as a reward for their efforts.
