Curriculum

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Students

Moonta Area School acknowledges and respects the Nharungga people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn, work, and gather. We pay our deepest respects to their Elders, past and present, and recognise their ongoing connection to Country, culture, and community.

Throughout the year, we celebrate significant events that hold deep meaning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including National Reconciliation Week, National Sorry Day, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, and NAIDOC Week. These events provide opportunities for our students and community to engage in meaningful learning, reflection, and celebration. We actively involve Elders, families, and the wider community in these important occasions, strengthening connections and fostering cultural pride.

Aboriginal Education Team

Our Aboriginal students, parents, and families are supported by our Aboriginal Education Team, which includes:

  • AET (Aboriginal Education Teacher): Mr George Hewitson

  • ACEO (Aboriginal Community Education Officer): Miss Dee Whitehead

This team works closely with students and families to support wellbeing, attendance, intervention, monitoring, and classroom learning. They collaborate with teachers to embed Aboriginal cultural studies and perspectives into the curriculum, ensuring students gain a deeper understanding of First Nations histories, cultures, and knowledge systems.

Our Programs

We are committed to embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives across our curriculum. Our school proudly flies the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags as a daily acknowledgment of our respect and commitment to reconciliation.

Key programs and initiatives include:

  • SAASTA Connect Program: Providing leadership and cultural education opportunities for Aboriginal students, preparing them for future pathways in education and employment.

  • Stage 1 Aboriginal Studies: Offered to senior students, this subject explores Aboriginal histories, cultures, and contemporary issues, fostering critical thinking and deep understanding.

  • Junior Primary Aboriginal Studies: Young learners engage with Dreaming stories, Aboriginal symbols, and cultural traditions, deepening their appreciation of Aboriginal perspectives from an early age.

  • Integrated Learning (Wednesdays): A focus on the Rainbow Serpent and Caring for Country, teaching students about Creation stories, environmental responsibility, and Aboriginal ways of knowing and being.

  • Bush Bites – Ngargudja Banggara (Eating on Country): Our bush tucker garden is a hands-on learning space that connects students with native plants, traditional foods, and sustainable practices.

At Moonta Area School, we strive to create an inclusive and culturally rich learning environment where all students can develop an appreciation and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and perspectives.

Students in the Bush Bites Garden

SAASTA: South Australian Aboriginal Secondary Training Academy

SAASTA provides opportunities for our students to grow and develop as young adults. They connect with their culture and gain knowledge and skills in various sports such as football, netball, basketball and soccer. SAASTA is available for students in Years 10, 11 and 12 who are studying for their SACE.

Moonta Area School joins Kadina Memorial School and Central Yorke School for SAASTA that is held at Central Yorke School once a week.

Reconciliation Action Plan

In 2020 Moonta Area School drafted its first Reconciliation Action Plan with the assistance of the Reconciliation Australia platform, Narragunnawali.

Narragunnawali is an online platform that helps support schools and early learning services in Australia to develop environments that encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander to develop high level of knowledge and pride in their people’s histories, cultures and contributions. The Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) itself is a formal statement of Moonta Area School’s commitment to reconciliation. The working group currently consists of Kirsty Amos, Matthew Altmann, Lisa Weetra, Wendy Williams, Kelly Harris, Felicity Partington and Nicole Cross.

We welcome any parents and community members who express interest in joining such a group to get in touch with Moonta Area School to discuss this further.