Brisbane Water Secondary College - Woy Woy Campus

Respect - Commitment - Relationships

Telephone02 4341 1600

Emailwoywoy-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Aboriginal Student Support

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

We welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family members, parents and 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. 

At BWSC Woy Woy campus, we run a Aboriginal Learning and Engagement Centre (ALEC) which aims to provide extra support to students and increase the proportion of Aboriginal students attaining their Higher School Certificate (HSC). The ALEC team does this through: 

  • Providing support for targeted students to achieve literacy / numeracy and subject specific skills required to successfully undertake HSC Minimum Standard and achieve HSC.

  • Providing support for Aboriginal students in completing tasks, such as homework assignments, library/IT research across all curriculum areas including effective planning and time management skills.

  • Liaising with teachers, support staff and parents/carers to develop personalised strategies to improve educational outcomes and post schooling opportunities for Aboriginal students.

  • Working in collaboration with the local AECG and community in supporting the initiative.

  • Collecting and analysing data to inform targeted support.

  •  Monitoring and evaluating student participation, engagement and academic achievement.

  • Assisting students at key transition points throughout the year.

Brisbane Water Secondary College has strong links to the local community and the local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group. The school is committed to meeting the expectations set out by the AECG Partnership Agreement.

To help us develop strong links to the community, we have also employed Stuart McMinn, a cultural advisor, who provides staff and student Professional Learning to deepen their cultural understanding and awareness. Stuart is a Darug and Gubbi Gubbi Cultural Man who is passionate about Aboriginal education and has a wealth of experience. 

 

Mitchell Marlin- Aboriginal Learning and Engagement Teacher

Mitchell is a Mathematics and PDHPE trained teacher who has been employed at the college for the last 5 years. He has worked across both the Woy Woy and Umina campuses, and is very passionate about the outcomes of our Aboriginal students and their connection to culture. 

Jye Palmer - Aboriginal School Learning Support Officer

Jye Palmer is a young Aboriginal man who has lived on the Central Coast his whole life. He has been actively involved in his Aboriginal community within his school. He is very passionate about his culture and the history of First Nations people. Jye loves the opportunity to develop new skills, and he is driven to be a positive and approachable role model for our students. 

Maya Armstrong - Aboriginal School Learning Support Officer

More information can be obtained from the DoE Aboriginal Education website.