In a proud moment for continuing reconciliation efforts in NSW public education, two NSW public schools have received national recognition for their outstanding reconciliation initiatives.

Briar Road Public School on Dharawal Country in southwest Sydney was named winner of the Schools’ category at the fifth Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education Awards.

Principal Tammy Anderson said reconciliation was probably the most important work done by the school as it was embedded throughout all teaching and learning.

“It will be great to go back and celebrate with the kids and the community, but the process of reconciliation is much bigger than this victory,” Mrs Anderson said.

“We do put it at the heart of everything that we do, and one of the pride points for me is watching non-Aboriginal people take up that baton.”

Chair of the awards judging panel and Reconciliation Australia Board Director, Sharon Davis, said it was clear to the judges that all students at Briar Road Public School were thriving and the entire community was included and uplifted.

‘Students, staff and families describe the school as a place where reconciliation is both expected and celebrated, and community ownership of the journey is evident,’ Ms Davis said.

"While it embeds Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, and perspectives in its work, it also ensures that non-Indigenous staff take on the heavy lifting of the ongoing work of reconciliation in education.’

The judges also highly commended Karuah Public School on the Mid North Coast of NSW for its work.

‘Karuah Public School situated itself on the front line of truth-telling about its past exclusion of Aboriginal students,” Ms Davis said.

‘Their five-year journey of reconciliation has involved consistent dialogue, vulnerability and respect which has transformed a once-divided community into a more connected and hopeful one.”

Since starting as principal at Karuah six years ago, Toni Lyle has worked side by side with Elder Michelle Perry to strengthen the school’s relationship with the local Aboriginal community, which lived next to the school. Its children were legally excluded from the school for 40 years, from 1915-1955.

When some parents resisted the introduction of Gathang language lessons, Ms Lyle began taking every available opportunity to tell the history of the school, focusing on the years Aboriginal children were excluded from the school and the ongoing legacy to the community that lingers into the present.

“People started to recognise that ‘sorry meant we’re sorry that this happened to you’,’” the principal said.

“I have learned that rather than calling people out, you should call people in and have a discussion with them.

“When it comes to reconciliation and overcoming fear, we need to allow people the space to take risks, make mistakes and work through them, not just shame and blame.”

"Karuah Public School also recently underwent a major redesign to create an open, welcoming space that acknowledged the past in collaboration with the school, local Elders, Youyoong AECG and School Infrastructure NSW.”