Indigenous Education Program wins Premier’s Reconciliation Award
May 30, 2012
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The 2012 Queensland Reconciliation Awards recognise and award businesses, community organisations, educational institutions and partnership projects for their commitment towards turning reconciliation into real action.
St Joseph’s Nudgee College’s Indigenous Education Program was one of four finalist in the Education sector for government and non-government schools, universities or TAFE’s that have programs and or initiatives in place to promote reconciliation.
At the gala event held at the Gallery of Modern Art on Tuesday evening the Premier of Queensland Mr Campbell Newman MP congratulated Nudgee College on its Highly Commended award and significant contribution to Indigenous education in Australia and bringing about true reconciliation in their effort to ‘closing the gap’ between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australians.
Nudgee College has a long and proud history of catering for the educational needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their approach to that endeavour was formalised in 1993 with the establishment of the Indigenous Education Program, the Indigenous Student Support Team and associated programs specifically targeted at ensuring the best possible outcomes for its indigenous students.
Since formalising the Indigenous Education Program in 1993, more than 430 Indigenous students have benefited from a quality education in the environment offered by Nudgee College, which enjoys a 92% retention and completion rate for Indigenous students, one of the highest in Australia.
A key outcome of the Indigenous education Program has been the acknowledgement and acceptance of indigenous cultures and traditions not only within the school environment of Nudgee College but throughout the broader Nudgee College community.
Representing the College at the awards ceremony were the College Principal - Mr Daryl Hanly; Head of Indigenous Education - Ms Yvonne O’Neill; Indigenous Education Support Officer - Ms Joanne Barrett; Director of Development & Communications – Mr Paul Daly and Indigenous students Jayden Moyle (Year 12) and Trae O’Neill (Year 11).
