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Pymble Ladies’ College offers AIEF Scholarships for boarding students.
This year marked 17 years of our First Nations Scholarship Program, 14 of which have been in partnership with the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF). The thriving program is supported by the Pymble Ladies’ College (Pymble) strategic direction and the community, which recognises and appreciates the inestimable value of First Nations and non-First Nations students sharing an education that will enable them to graduate as influential and compassionate young women who contribute meaningfully to their local and global communities.
In 2024, there were 20 First Nations students on AIEF Scholarships at Pymble. Four of our Year 12 scholars will complete their Higher School Certificate at the end of the year. Two intend to undertake further studies at tertiary level, in Psychology and Sports Management/Business. Two graduates will be heading to the UK for a gap year before beginning their further studies in Medicine and Disability Work.
Several of our First Nations students attended an AIEF/HSBC/KPMG careers day to hear about career opportunities, and employees from the AIEF also held one-on-one and small group career sessions with students in Years 10, 11 and 12. These sessions helped our girls learn about a range of careers, write a professional CV, and commence applications to university or other post-school pathways.
EMBRACING FIRST NATIONS CULTURE AS A COMMUNITY
First Nations Review – Summit Education
The review of our First Nations program reported the following recommendations, and plans are underway to action these in 2025.
• Define and articulate the intended outcomes of the First Nations program.
• Create a differentiated program of professional development for staff.
• Provide opportunities to promote voice and representation from within the First Nations community, drawing on the lived experience of parents, students, alumni and community elders.
• Develop an enrolment and transition strategy for First Nations students.
• Celebrate the success of the program.
IWiSH – Inspiring Women in Science and Health
Two Year 10 First Nations students represented Pymble at the I-WiSH research conference at Matthew Flinders Anglican School, Queensland. This event enables school students to hear directly from PhD students and academics about their current research, in areas as diverse as dark matter, women’s reproductive health, pharmacy information literacy, and the neuroscience of paediatric pain. Students selected a topic to explore more deeply and worked with the researcher to create a change strategy related to that topic.
The Pymble Institute plans to run our own I-WiSH conference in 2025. The event will draw on our connections with First Nations women, including parents of students at the College, and pair with NAIDOC Week and National Science Week celebrations.
Waratah Project update
In 2024, the Waratah Project welcomed five new schools and grew to a total of 40. Our participation in the project, where schools openly share practice and strategies, continues to see an impact on educational outcomes for our First Nations students.
Pymble attended the three Waratah Project meetings this year. Topics discussed were: Allyship in Schools; Closing the Gap – Identifying the progress towards National Targets; and Barriers to Fully Engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Communities, Histories and Cultures.
Pymble is partnered with UNSW and AIS NSW Waratah Project schools to support their development of First Nations pedagogical narratives that will improve teachers’ practices and confidence in engaging with Aboriginal perspectives and knowledges. Our focus in this program will be on the Stage Four curriculum and enhancing the cross-curriculum priorities to make a cohesive narrative.
Connecting with our families on Country
At the end of Term 2 and during the holiday break, Pymble staff visited current First Nations families, alumni, and prospective scholars for 2025. This time spent on Country and building early connections helps form strong and culturally aware relationships between staff, students and their families.
NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC Week at Pymble celebrated the richness of First Nations cultures, the depth of their stories, and the strength of their custodianship. The week featured a Secondary School assembly, segments in the Junior School assemblies, a weaving workshop, fundraising bake sale for The Indigenous Literacy Foundation and Johnny Cake baking at the Yarning Circle and firepit. Our students also produced this video about what NAIDOC means to them.
Reconciliation Week
Reconciliation Week celebrations included our 6th annual First Nations Round of Sport, assemblies, fundraisers, Chapel services, Library displays and Compass Group activities. Our Secondary students also produced a video based on the 2024 theme, ‘Now MoreThan Ever’.
On-Country immersion
Seven students from the Middle and Upper Schools visited Goodooga in Muruwari, Yuwaalaraay and Kamilaroi country. This trip offered our students and staff a chance to connect with their counterparts at Goodooga Central School and engage in various activities, including learning elements of the Stage 4 Aboriginal Studies Curriculum, contributing to a service project supporting the staff and students at Goodooga, and participating in the Goodooga Indigenous Games. Our students returned to Pymble with a deeper understanding of our nation’s history and a proud sense of being part of a community in a rural school setting, as the following reflection from Year 8 students shows.
“We had the most amazing opportunity to travel to Dubbo, Lightning Ridge, Brewarrina and Goodgooga as part of the 2024 Cultural Immersion Project. We started our trip bright and early on a Monday morning with a long train ride from Central Station to Dubbo and some beautiful views along the way. Then we drove another four hours to get to Lightning Ridge.
“On Tuesday morning, we drove to Brewarrina to visit the fish traps and Cultural Museum. The exact age of the fish traps is unknown but archaeologists believe they are one of the oldest human constructions in the world. These fish traps were a meeting and fishing place for eight different language groups: Morowari, Baranbinja, Kula, Brewarrina, Ualarai, Koamu, Kamilaroi and Weilwan. Our tour guide, Bradley, explained that the fish traps are an ancient Dreamtime site built by Baiame and his two sons Booma-ooma-nowi and Ghinda-inda-mui.
It was an amazing learning experience to see something that was used so long ago still being used to this day. The Museum held a number of really important tools, weapons and information about the river and nearby Mission. We also learnt Aboriginal words for the local animals, birds and people. After that, we drove to the Walgett High agriculture plot to see all the animals and the First Nations Medicine Nursery with the wide variety of plants used in medicines. We even got to hold an emu chick.
“On Wednesday we visited the Opal shops, which was really special because Lightning Ridge is famous for them. We also learnt how opals are made and used which was interesting. By midday, we traveled to Goodooga and spotted many animals like Emus and Kangaroos along the way. When we arrived at Goodooga we decided to go to the Great Artesian Bore Baths also known as hot springs. We had a great time there hanging out with everyone. Later that night we went to a disco with all the other schools. Lots of the schools stayed in classrooms as there was no accommodation in Goodooga. It was fun dancing and making friends with the little kids. We also helped make spaghetti Bolognese for dinner for the students and staff staying at the school. It was delicious.
“Thursday was our big day when we attended the 2024 Indigenous Games. Ms Budd started the day by helping out with making breakfast with a number of the Googooda community members for all 300 kids due to attend. After breakfast we attended the official opening ceremony which included a Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony and cultural dancing. Twenty-two schools from around NSW came to Yuwaalaraay Country to celebrate and immerse in culture. After this, everyone split into 24 animal groups, for example Guba (koalas), Gilaa (galahs) and Muyaay (cockatoos). Groups were made up of students of all ages and from all over NSW. We then participated in games like Munhanganing (a tag game), Kokan (a hockey-like game), Buroinjin (soccer/NRL game), Pulyugge (AFL-like game, Keentan (netball-like game) and Parndo (rugby target game). Games were energetic, competitive and a time to make new connections. We learnt so many new skills and learned about new perspectives and lifestyles. We were able to make connections and really enjoyed supporting the primary school students in our groups. Goodooga Central School was an amazing place and we cannot thank them enough for the best lunch of the entire trip! The whole Goodooga community was involved including the local PCYC, who cooked the barbecue, and the Flying Doctors. After lunch, we attended the closing ceremony. We were so sad to leave but we had to get to Dubbo!
“On Friday we woke up early in Dubbo and drove to our last breakfast of the trip. Then we got on the bus and drove all the way to Lithgow, where we got on the train and travelled all the way back to Central Station.
“The week is one we will never forget. We were able to build connections with older and younger students and learn more about our country’s First Nations Culture. We also have so many new stories to share.”
Garma Festival
As part of the Yadha Muru Foundation City-Country partnership between Pymble and Milingimbi School, four Pymble and sixteen Milingimbi students attended the 2024 Youth stream of the Garma Festival, Australia’s premier Indigenous cultural exchange on the land of the Yolŋu people on Gumatj Country in East Arnhem Land.
Highlights for our students included meeting with our ex-students Libby Cook Black (2011) and Bronte Charles (2018), participating in a healing ceremony, engaging with staff and supporters from the AIEF, and feeling inspired by the Yolŋu people and their strong connection to culture.
The Goanna Academy
Pymble in partnership with Scots College recently participated in the UpholdCULTURE Mental Health and Wellbeing program run by Greg Inglis’ foundation, The Goanna Academy. Students enjoyed sessions on belonging and connectedness, culture, healthy habits and story sharing.
Student opportunities through AIEF
Our First Nations students have appreciated the personalised opportunities offered to them in 2024 through the AIEF. These include speaking at the Year 12 Graduation events, Newscorp/Sky News Reconciliation Week event and the Bush Summit.
Finally, the College welcomes six new First Nations scholars to our community in 2025. The students hail from Groote Eylandt (Year 7), Walgett (Year 7), Gravesend (2 x Year 7), Wellington (Year 8) and Darwin (Year 9). All candidates went through an online interview process, were visited in their community, had a one-week immersion at Pymble (with Boarding) and will experience an orientation program in Term 4 with other new students.
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AIEF is making sure there are opportunities for Yolngu kids to get access to the best education possible and making sure that balanda [whitefella] kids learn about Yolngu as well.
Australian Indigenous Education Foundation
Suite 2A, Level 2
2-12 Foveaux Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
T (02) 8373 8000
F (02) 8373 8001
info@aief.com.au
www.aief.com.au
ABN 13 127 908 187
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