Australia's First People Education

Creator Spirit, challenge us to open our eyes to see the world from another lens.
Though change has occurred, the story and spirit of the
Boon Wurrung people will always be written in this land.
We acknowledge the Boon Wurrung.

The National Catholic Education Commission’s Vision for Reconciliation:

That all involved in Catholic education will act upon the words of The Australian Bishops, Pope John Paul II and The Vision of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.

Firmly opt for solidarity between all of Australia’s inhabitants by individually and communally responding to a call to conversion based on hope, promise and love, and to reconciliation with people of every race living in our country.

We promote a culturally inclusive and collaborative program to enhance educational outcomes for Aboriginal students and to create a welcoming school environment.

Our program acknowledges Aboriginal views and promotes greater understanding and respect for Aboriginal people, cultures, history and languages. 

The FIRE Carrier Program
(Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education)


The dream of the FIRE Carrier program is to promote respect, fairness and inclusion for Aboriginal people. The FIRE Carrier promotes, enculturation and reconciliation in Catholic and Independent primary and secondary, Victorian schools.

 Our Fire Carriers

Our Covenant

Wominjeka! We live, work and play on the sacred land of the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. We acknowledge and respect their spiritual connections, culture and beliefs. We aim to work together to heal the wounds of wrongdoings from the past and to deepen our understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in our school.

We recognise that as a Catholic school community, we have a responsibility to acknowledge the misdeeds done by those in the past against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is our responsibility to promote forgiveness and reconciliation and to provide for equality and hope in a future that honours every culture that has contributed to our Australia.

Our Acknowledgement of Country

Today, as always, we would like to acknowledge and pay our respects to the (traditional) owners of the land on which we stand. Our loving and wise Creator, in His goodness, gave this land to the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation. We remember that it is upon their land that we carry on our own stories.

As we share our own prayers, stories and songs, as we learn to live and work together, may we also pay our deep respect to all our elders, those past and those present, who are with us today. Let us also acknowledge the deep wisdom, knowledge and spirituality that is forever embedded within the Aboriginal custodians of this Country.

The Message Stick

Our story, our connection

“You are part of Australia and Australia is part of you.

And the Church herself in Australia will not be fully the

Church that Jesus wants her to be until you have made your

contribution to her life and until that contribution has been

joyfully received by others”.

(Pope John Paul II, Message to Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders, Alice Springs, 1986)

When the people who wrote the bible told the story of creation, they spoke of life coming forth because God spoke. As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have sung their songs and walked their paths, they have remained connected to this country for tens of thousands of years.

Through their deep spiritual connection to the earth, they have forged a life bond that can never be broken for they will always hear the voice of the earth calling them home.

For us, following their paths and hearing their stories is like when we walk in the footsteps of God by listening to the stories from the Gospels.

How do we do this?

Spiritually

• Inclusion of the Acknowledgment of Country and the Message Stick at Liturgies and Masses
• Learning about the creation stories and comparing them to the Catholic Traditions
• Fire Carrier Program
• Aboriginal Lord’s Prayer & other prayers and songs

Culturally

• Bunurong Story Group
• Alliance with the Bunurong Land Council
• Work with Bunurong historian and artist – Adam Magennis
• House Colours – Nirnuk (Green-frog), Murnalong (Gold-Honey bee), Dorrong (Red-Heart), Corinella (Blue-Running water)
• Acknowledgment of Country
• Education about Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander culture and traditions
• Building names eg Dantum Building, Tjimbaya Room
• Aboriginal Flag flown in the school

Through Reconciliation and Justice

• Reconciliation Week and Naidoc Week
• Flag Raising Ceremonies – National Sorry Day
• Harmony Day celebrations
• Multicultural Day celebrations
• Art program
• Staff PD & training – Aboriginal Archaeological Tour
• Indigenous Literacy day
• Bunurong Story Group
• Fire Carrier Ceremonies

St Augustine’s Primary School demonstrates an ongoing commitment to acknowledging, respecting and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and perspectives across the life of the school. This is embedded through whole-school practices, curriculum planning, professional learning and the school environment.

The school regularly acknowledges significant dates and events, including NAIDOC Week and National Sorry Day, providing opportunities for students and staff to develop their understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions. Acknowledgement of Country is incorporated into school gatherings, events and relevant meetings, reinforcing respect for the Traditional Owners of the land on which our school is located. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are intentionally incorporated into teaching and learning programs, including Inquiry and Literacy units. Teachers plan learning experiences that explore Aboriginal histories, cultures, connection to Country, storytelling, art, language and contemporary perspectives. The library provides access to a range of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-authored and culturally significant texts, which are displayed and incorporated into classroom learning and Inquiry units.  We have a section in our library designated for these texts. 

The physical environment of the school also reflects and acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, including the display of culturally significant resources and texts. These visible representations provide opportunities for students to develop a sense of respect, belonging and understanding.

The school is committed to building staff capacity and understanding through professional learning focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, histories and cultures. This professional learning supports teachers to confidently and respectfully embed Aboriginal perspectives within curriculum planning and classroom practice, while developing a deeper understanding of cultural awareness and culturally responsive teaching.

St Augustine’s Primary School is proud to be a Fire Carrier School, demonstrating our commitment to reconciliation and to developing a deeper understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures, histories and perspectives. Our Fire Carriers play an important role in keeping the flame of reconciliation alive within our school community and supporting opportunities for students, staff and families to learn about and engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. 

The school’s commitment is further supported through its Child Safety and Wellbeing practices, with designated Child Safety Officers and processes that promote an inclusive, respectful and culturally safe environment for all students. Through these combined practices, St Augustine’s seeks to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are not limited to specific celebrations but are valued, visible and embedded throughout school life and learning.