Aboriginal Education
Acknowledgement of Country
At Flinders View Primary and Pre-School we acknowledge the Barngarla people as the traditional owners of the land on which we meet.
We pay our respect to all elders -past, present, and future for they hold the memories, cultural traditions and hopes of Aboriginal Australia.
We further acknowledge the contributions of both Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Australians to the education of all children and young people
Mission Statement
At Flinders View Primary School, we are committed to fostering a deep respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, and perspectives. We strive to create a culturally inclusive and responsive learning environment where all students- especially our First Nations learners; feel safe, valued, and empowered.
Our mission is to:
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- Honour the voices, knowledge, and traditions of Aboriginal peoples as the First Nations of this land.
- Embed Aboriginal perspectives meaningfully across all areas of the curriculum and increate academic achievement for students.
- Strengthen partnerships with local Aboriginal communities to enhance cultural understanding and connection.
- Support the academic, social, emotional and cultural success of our Aboriginal students through high expectations, targeted support, and celebration of identity.
- Promote reconciliation through truth-telling, respect, and shared learning.
Together, we walk forward in unity, with a commitment to equity, cultural integrity, and a brighter future for all.
Location within school grounds
Reconciliation Action Plan: RAP
Our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a formal commitment to advancing reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. It outlines practical actions our organization will take to build respectful relationships, create meaningful opportunities, and promote cultural understanding. Through this plan, we aim to acknowledge past injustices, celebrate First Nations cultures, and work together towards a more inclusive and equitable future.
School and Community Partnership Agreement
Information Coming Soon
Aboriginal Perspectives
Members of the Aboriginal Education Team
The Aboriginal Education Team is made up of a representative from the Leadership Team (line manager), the Aboriginal Education Teacher (AET), Aboriginal Community Education Officers (ACEO), our Languages Teacher and our Language Specialist (HPI). Our ACEOs support Aboriginal students and families, contribute to culturally inclusive curriculum and learning, help to strengthen school-community connections, and ensure First Nations voices are represented in school decision-making.
At FVPS the AET is responsible for working alongside our ACEOs to support staff to embed cultural perspectives in teaching, and strengthen connections between school, families and the community.
Aboriginal Education at Flinders View Primary School
Preschool Support
Our Children Parent Centre (CPC) operates onsite Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Aboriginal students and Torres Strait Islander students are able to enrol for pre-entry from the age of three. A transition program for students moving from CPC to school occurs at the end of Term 2 (mid-year intake) and Term 4. The preschool has an Aboriginal educator that supports students and families to engage within the CPC and school environments.
ACEOs in the Classrooms
Flinders View Primary School is committed to the improvement of all student outcomes. Our ACEOs are scheduled to work in classes to support learners (in particular literacy and numeracy).
Playgroup
The school-based playgroup was established and is overseen by an ACEO. Playgroup is held weekly, Friday mornings from 10 am to 12:30pm using the preschool facilities. The cost to attend is $3 per session, per child (to be paid on the day). A healthy shared snack is provided to all in attendance. Additional funding is provided by the school to support the integral work of this program in the development of relationships with young families and the preschool/school.
Languages Program (Adnyamathanha)
The school offers a second language learning program (Adnyamathanha). This is facilitated by our Languages Teacher and a Community Language Specialist (HPI-Instructor). This program is provided across the whole school. Classes and classroom teachers attend one Adnyamathanha lesson per week. This supports student and staff learning of the Adnyamathanha language, culture and histories and provides a holistic approach across the whole site.
Breakfast and Emergency Lunch Programs
Breakfast Club – this program runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week from 8:35–9:00am in the Aboriginal Education Kitchen. Breakfast Club is overseen by the Aboriginal Education and Leadership Teams. Students are able to access toast, cereal, juice and a warm Milo (Terms 2 & 3). The food for the Breakfast Club is provided by funding from the school and the Foodbank service. Students who arrive after 9am are able to access breakfast with their classroom SSO to support them in doing so.
Emergency Lunches – our school canteen (supported by the Aboriginal Education Team) provides Emergency Lunches to those students who require them. Students are able to choose from a variety of sandwich options and these are ordered and delivered to classrooms via the lunch order boxes.
Aboriginal Parent Voice
At Flinders View Primary School, we value and actively seek Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parent voice as a vital part of our inclusive and culturally responsive learning community. We create strong links to the community through regular consultation, culturally significant events, and collaboration with local Aboriginal organisations.
Families are invited to share their knowledge, experiences, and aspirations for their children, ensuring their voices shape school planning and practice. Opportunities such as Governing Council, gatherings, cultural celebrations, and involvement in classroom and school-based programs enable meaningful partnerships, fostering a sense of belonging and shared responsibility for student success.
Bush Tucker & Medicine Gardens
Origins of our gardens – In 2015, the Aboriginal Education Team worked with staff, students and the community to design a Bush Tucker Garden for FVPS. This design never came to fruition due to the $100,000 quote the school was provided with to develop the space. In 2019, the Aboriginal Education Team made the Bush Tucker Garden a priority again. After numerous grant submissions, the Team was successful in securing a grant of $30,000 from Australian Schools Plus. This grant began the creation of the Bush Tucker Garden. Over the next few years, the Aboriginal Education Team and school community worked together to create the thriving and vibrant Bush Tucker and Medicine Gardens we have today.
We have a variety of native plants growing in our gardens. Students and staff are able to access the gardens to link to Aboriginal culture and histories. Plaques are located throughout the garden with information regarding the native plant names, Adnyamathanha names and uses.
Cultural Competency
At Flinders View Primary School, cultural competency is demonstrated through a strong commitment to understanding, respecting, and valuing the diverse cultural backgrounds of all students. Staff engage in ongoing professional learning to deepen their awareness of cultural perspectives and embed inclusive practices into their teaching. This includes incorporating culturally relevant content in the curriculum, building respectful relationships with families and communities, and creating classroom environments where all students feel seen, heard, and valued. Cultural competency at Flinders View is not a one-off initiative but an ongoing journey that is central to fostering a safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environment.
The Culturally Responsive Framework, developed by the Department for Education in South Australia, is designed to promote inclusive, equitable education by valuing and embedding cultural diversity within teaching practices, curriculum, and school environments. It emphasizes the importance of cultural competency: understanding, respecting, and responding to the cultural identities of all students, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners. Flinders View Primary School is actively working to implement this framework by embedding culturally responsive pedagogies into its teaching practices and promoting an inclusive school culture. The school fosters strong partnerships with local communities and encourages reflective practice, helping educators develop deeper cultural awareness and the skills needed to create respectful, supportive learning environments for all students.
8 Ways Pedagogy
The 8 Ways pedagogy originates from the traditional knowledge systems of Aboriginal peoples in western New South Wales, Australia. Developed through collaborative work with local Elders and educators, it provides a framework for teaching and learning that respects and integrates Aboriginal cultural practices and worldviews. Grounded in community consultation, the pedagogy outlines eight interconnected teaching strategies that reflect Aboriginal ways of knowing, doing, and being. The 8 Ways focuses on embedded perspectives in the processes of learning rather than the content. Flinders View Primary School utilises the 8 Ways Pedagogy to incorporate Aboriginal Pedagogies and Practices into classrooms.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Days of Significance
Cultural Events and Days of Significance are integrally integrated into the planning of the school calendar in recognition and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture.
| Day of Significance | Date | School Response |
|---|---|---|
| Harmony Day | 21st March | Harmony Day is celebrated within the school. Events are organised through our Student Leaders and the School Events Committee (of which a member of the Aboriginal Education Team participates). |
| National Reconciliation Week | 27th May – 3rd June | Reconciliation Week is celebrated every year. The Aboriginal Education Team organises whole school and community events for students and families to participate in. They also support teachers with resources relating to NRW, reconciliation and anti-racism. |
| NAIDOC Week | 2nd – 9th July | NAIDOC Week often falls in the school holidays, however FVPS participates in community activities (where possible) and recognises NAIDOC Week with merchandise and information for students. |
| National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day | 4th August | This day is celebrated to recognise our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and those from the Stolen Generation. Students are taught the history and significance of this date and the Aboriginal Education Team provides an activity or morning tea for students. |
