Michelle Williams

Woy Woy Public School is located on the Central Coast of NSW and we are a really diverse community and we've always had a really strong connection to our Aboriginal community and particularly Mingaletta and Koorana AECG.

Tracey Burraston

Koorana local AECG are very lucky to have partnered with Mingaletta and the Mingaletta Aunties. The Aunties have been heavily involved with the Reconciliation Action Plan here at Woy Woy Public School.

Aunty Elaine Chapman

I'm Elaine Chapman, i'm a very proud Wiradjuri and Arrernte woman. The word, if you take it, reconciliation, means everybody coming together and within schools, particularly where we've got our, as Aboriginal young people, coming through as our future leaders, and Elders. Reconciliation within the schools and within the open communities is vital.

Tracey Burraston

I would encourage all schools to work with their local AECG when they're developing their Reconciliation Action Plan, but that, that consultation needs to start at the beginning. I think that that's what's made Woy Woy Public School so successful.

Michelle Williams

We asked the Aunties to, to come in and to start off in the preschool and then we had some interest from the, from the rest of the school and our school principals were very keen to have the Aunties share their experiences with the wider school communities.

Student

Well, when the aunties come in, they usually tell us stories.

Student

When we have the Aunties, it's always such a joy to have them at our school. We always do like Aboriginal art with them, we're doing weaving, read Aboriginal stories and we love learning about our Elders.

Student

The Aunties come and do their art, do art with us and share their knowledge and it makes me feel joyful with them.

Student

Reconciliation to me means to improve and build like relationships between like Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginals.

Aunty Robyn Reid

I love every student in this school and when I'm up near the butcher shop I hear Aunty Robyn and they come running at me and I brace myself. I love it. To be known by the school kids when you're out shopping is a great honour in any community, and I love Woy Woy Public School.

Blake Rosewarn

So in terms of the Reconciliation Action Plan itself, the Narragunnawali website and the platform is super user friendly. It really helps to guide schools as a go to in when your people are looking for different ideas for initiatives and deliverables. All of the resources are there available, the professional learning is there to help and it's really just a beneficial platform that schools should tap into as a resource to get started on your reconciliation journey.

Aunty Elaine Chapman

We can now see as we walk through the playgrounds with the kids, the connection that we've made by coming every week and having them listen, Aboriginal, non-Aboriginal, they know the stories and that's the important thing to aid in reconciliation.