We acknowledge that our loving Creator, God first gave the land on which we are placed to the peoples of the First Nations. We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Kaurna people, the Traditional Custodians of the Ancestral Lands on which we live, work and learn. We acknowledge the deep attachment and relationship of the Kaurna people to Country and acknowledge the care they have given, and continue to give, to the Land. We pay our respects to the Kaurna people and Elders past and present and emerging.
Our Journey
Our journey of reconciliation at Endeavour College has been, and continues to be, an insightful and powerful one. From the very beginning, there was a strong desire from our staff to engage. However, as is often the case, many staff members lacked the confidence to explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures with their students. Therefore, we knew it was time to tap into this desire and upskill staff to develop this confidence.
Following this, a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group was formed. Meeting for the first time, it was evident that the membership of the Working Group reflected a strong diversity of knowledge and experiences. However, despite where we were on our individual reconciliation journeys, the passion we all shared for promoting reconciliation in our community and improving staff and student learning in this area very quickly became a point of connection.
Over time, enthusiasm grew, and it was not solely members of the Working Group who were considering RAP Actions. Rather, staff from a range of faculties were engaging in this process, developing projects both small and large to better represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures in our school. Staff were seeking advice and guidance from others to better embed this Cross-curriculum Priority into their teaching and learning programs. Others were broadening their own knowledge and understanding, exploring a range of knowledges, issues, and perspectives. Others made commitments to formal professional learning. As a school, we began to develop strong relationships with First Nations people from both our local area and, more broadly, from around South Australia.
All of this was happening while our Connected School partners were also considering their RAPs. It was therefore decided that our annual Connected Schools Conference for 2021 be titled, ‘Reconciliation: More than a Word’. With keynote speaker, Brooke Prentice, and workshops focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures, staff engaged in meaningful professional development to improve their knowledge, understanding, and confidence. This gave us significant momentum, both as a Working Group, a College, and a Connected Schools system.
Finally, we were ready. It was through the commitment of the Working Group and the broader staff at Endeavour College that we have created this, our very first RAP and truly embedded our commitment to reconciliation into our every day.
The Endeavour College community is built on the values of Lutheran Education Australia and have a genuine commitment to Reconciliation.
