Aboriginal education

Lawson Public School is committed to being a strong, culturally responsive, and inclusive school where every Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander learner and student is known, valued, and cared for to learn, grow, and belong.

We are committed to closing the achievement gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. We know that we need to learn about, nurture and value the cultural identity of our Aboriginal students to help them be successful learners.

We welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family members, parents and carers, as well as community members to our school so that we can get to know each other, learn about the local Aboriginal community and develop shared goals and plans for Aboriginal students.

The Aboriginal Education Policy confirms the NSW Department of Education’s commitment to improvement in educational outcomes and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

At Lawson Public School, our staff are passionate about creating opportunities for all First Nations students to deepen their cultural knowledge, promoting their overall wellbeing and sense of connectedness. We are committed to ensuring every student learns and grows in culturally safe environments, with students at the heart of everything we do.

Dharug Dhalang

At our school, we are excited to begin introducing the NSW Languages curriculum through the teaching of Dharug Dhalang, the language of the Dharug people, who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which our school stands, along with the Gundungarra peoples.

Through this program, students develop an appreciation for the significance of Aboriginal languages in expressing culture, identity, and connection to Country. Learning Dharug Dhalang encourages respect for First Nations perspectives and helps students understand the deep relationship between language, storytelling, and the land.

The Dharug Dhalang program blends language learning with cultural experiences, creating rich and engaging opportunities for students to explore Aboriginal knowledge and traditions. Lessons include speaking, listening, and understanding the language through storytelling, songs, dance, art, and hands-on activities. Students learn useful words, greetings, and expressions, as well as the meanings behind Aboriginal place names, Dreaming stories, and cultural practices. The program is developed in collaboration with Dharug community members and Aboriginal educators to ensure that learning remains authentic, respectful, and community-led.

Some of the ways we support this include

• Developing Personalised Learning Pathways in collaboration with students and their families/caregivers

• Supporting students to write and, if they wish, present personalised Acknowledgements of Country

• Inviting family members to share their cultural knowledge with our First Nation students and/or school community

• Inviting First Nations students to meet as a group to foster connectedness, build a supportive community, and encourage ongoing relationships throughout their school journey.

• Organising incursions where students engage with Indigenous Australian community members

• Facilitating excursions that allow students to connect with Country and learn from Indigenous community members and experts in specific fields

• Access to cultural programs, such as :

  • Bidjiwong Crew
  • Deep connections with Blue Mountains Ngarra Winggarru, Aboriginal Education Consultive Group (AECG)
  • Blue Mountains Ngarra Winggarru, Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) sports day
  • Blue Mountains Ngarra Winggarru, Aboriginal Education Consultive Group (AECG) Award Ceremony
  • Dharug language implementation K-6

  Aboriginal Education and Communities

  Blue Mountains Ngarra Winggarru Facebook

  NSW Aboriginal Education Consultive Group (AECG)

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