Point Pearce Campus | March Update

The Learning On Country program centres around providing engaging activities that capture the students’ interests and inspire curiosity and a love of learning along with pride in their culture’.

Our Learning on Country program at Point Pearce has officially begun this Term. Learning on Country is the philosophy behind the Nharangga Revegetation and Culture Garden Project which is supported by Landscape SA Northern and Yorke, Landcare Australia, the IPA Rangers program and Point Pearce Aboriginal Corporation.

Program roots

It grew from a desire from the Nharangga community to have their children accessing education on site at the Point Pearce Campus and Community so that students can learn to walk strongly in two worlds.

The program involves the Year 3-6 First Nations students spending a full day at the Point Pearce Campus every Thursday accessing Nharangga language and culture lesson, Literacy, Numeracy, Design and Technology and Science with Aboriginal Perspectives being embedded in everything they do.

Leadership & experience

We are extremely lucky to have Linda Cooper driving this program as she has decades of experience in bringing together First Nations Knowledge with Western Science  in Education programs for  Science centres, museums and research organisations throughout Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

DfE Perspectives & Key Objectives

The Department for education’s Aboriginal Education Strategy says:

Strong identity, belonging, culture and history are a source of strength and resilience for Aboriginal people and their communities. A meaningful and culturally appropriate education helps keep culture strong, builds Aboriginal nations and enhances learning and participation for Aboriginal students.

Aboriginal Education Strategy 2019 to 2029 (Government of SA, Department for Education)

The Department for Education has some key objectives which our program supports:

• Aboriginal children’s experience of learning is relevant to their own lives, as it is reflective of the identity, language and culture of Aboriginal people.
• Teaching is culturally responsive and developed through a student-centred approach to teaching based on high expectations and quality relationships.
• Aboriginal children and young people demonstrate Aboriginal cultural pride and knowledge.
• Aboriginal young people engage with, participate and achieve in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) as potential pathways to industries of the future.

Big Goals

While we have some big goals for this program it all centres around providing engaging activities developed by educators Linda Cooper, Tshara Rigney and Belinda Chapman that capture the students interests and inspire curiosity and a love of learning along with pride in their culture.

We are so excited to be working with the Pt. Pearce rangers, community elders, community organisations and cultural consultants to make our students days at Point Pearce inspiring and meaningful as well as fun and I think the photos here reflect we are well on our way!

Kath Magarey | Head of Point Pearce