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Chairmans Report


Bevan Mailman – Chairman

I am pleased to present the 2010 Annual Report for Worawa Aboriginal College Ltd.

College Goals

The College goals implicit in the Philosophy and Mission Statement have formed the basis of our work at the College this year. They are underpinned by our values:

  • student focus
  • educational achievement
  • cultural maintenance
  • continuous improvement
  • community and stakeholder relationships
  • confidentiality
  • safe work environmen

As Victoria’s only registered Independent Aboriginal school Worawa Aboriginal College has a central place in Indigenous education. Worawa aims to provide a holistic program that develops the intellectual, social, physical, emotional and cultural wellbeing of each student through a combination of mainstream education and Aboriginal Pedagogy – ways of Being, Knowing and Doing.

Worawa is situated on Aboriginal land and is owned and run by Aboriginal people. A full boarding school, Worawa now caters exclusively to Aboriginal girls in the middle years of schooling years 7 – 10. Girls entering the College come from urban, regional and remote communities which experience a mosaic of need, and resulting trauma. Historically these communities have experienced very high levels of unemployment, poor school attendance rates and high levels of individual and community trauma. Worawa Aboriginal College is committed to providing an appropriate mainstream and Aboriginal Cultural education to enable students to attain confidence, knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to become fully contributing members of Australian society.

The beginning of the 2010 school year saw the start of a new era for Worawa Aboriginal College. The College changed its registration to a Specialist School for girls catering for the special needs of Indigenous girls in the middle years of schooling. This change of direction was based on community knowledge, documented evidence based research and assessment of the operating environment. Our educational program is based on the knowledge and experience we as Aboriginal people have of Aboriginal community education needs coupled with cutting edge solutions. Through an integrated Education Model based on Education, Culture and Wellbeing students are encouraged to develop academically, culturally and socially to their full potential. Throughout the year the Worawa Board has worked consistently to consolidate the operations of Worawa Aboriginal College as a specialist school which caters to the specific needs of Aboriginal girls in the middle years of schooling. The Board’s Strategic Plan focussed on enhanced educational outcomes through supporting the 5 College’s holistic education model. Worawa’s model responds to community need and is designed to directly address issues of trauma and disadvantage within the educational environment; deliver an alternative intensively supported pre year ten educational experience which is both culturally supportive and adaptable to a range of post year ten educational and training pathways.

The Board engaged Blake Dawson to conduct a Board Appraisal, with an internal review of the College’s Strategic Plan being undertaken.

Under specialist designation, the College also appointed Lois Peeler to the position of Executive Director. Lois is a long time supporter and director of the College, and sister of the College founder Hyllus Maris.

Communication

Staff members and relationships within communities remain our key point of contact. The Worawa brochure and website is an important communication tool in conveying information on the College to prospective students/families and other interested parties. We produce a quarterly newsletter for distribution to parents, communities and stakeholders.

Alliances

The College is a member of Independent Schools Victoria. We are pleased to be a member of the Girls School Alliance. Our School Partnership Program includes the following schools:

  • Presbyterian Ladies College
  • Shelford Girls’ Grammar
  • Scotch College
  • Luther College
  • Trinity Grammar
  • Yarra Valley Grammar
  • Tintern Girls School
  • Genazanno College
  • Billanook College
  • Healesville High

During the year Worawa also received a Business Partnership Award from Rotary International for the College’s partnership with our business partner ANZ.

We are pleased to have the continued support of the Worawa Academic Reference Group (WARG). WARG continues to monitor the implement the Worawa Education Model. Data collection and analysis provide a foundation for improvements to the Worawa Model.

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