Studying Time: 3 minutes
Meet the Sydney Catholic Colleges (SCS) alumna making a distinction in Aboriginal college students’ lives.
Jane Bridges, SCS’ Wellbeing Specialist: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander college students, mentioned she felt very proud to make a distinction in Indigenous training.
A Ngunawal lady, from the Bell line of household from Yass, she helps academics at SCS be taught from households in regards to the background, aspirations and strengths of their Indigenous college students, in partnership together with her colleague, Adam Daniels, who’s the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Neighborhood and Scholar Liaison Officer at SCS.
“Sydney is considered one of Australia’s largest and fastest-growing Indigenous inhabitants hubs and SCS has responded to the requests of households to coach Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander college students in a Catholic custom,” Ms Bridges mentioned.
In the present day there are 1093 Aboriginal college students enrolled in SCS faculties (40 greater than in 2020), together with not less than 77 college students who will sit their HSC this yr.
“SCS is presently engaged on a spotlight of creating Aboriginal Research in Phases 5 and 6 for all college students and a Cultural Competency program is already accessible by all employees,” Ms Bridges mentioned.
“As a system of faculties we’re enriched by the tales and spirituality that Aboriginal folks deliver to us every day.”
“The work that’s being accomplished is life-changing for people and Aboriginal households,” Ms Bridges mentioned.
Different methods SCS helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander college students to succeed:
- All Indigenous college students are given personalised studying plans that have interaction with pupil and household objectives. “The plans are dynamic and deal with success,” mentioned Ms Bridges.
- The staffing allocation mannequin (SAM) is utilized by faculties to make sure there are satisfactory academics on-hand in key areas reminiscent of literacy, numeracy and extension work.
- Pathways by VET. “These have had vital implications for bettering retention and HSC completion charges,” Ms Bridges mentioned.
- Partnerships with exterior stakeholders reminiscent of NRL College to Work and Souths Cares present help by mentoring, tutorial help and the supply of school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.
- The CaSPA Murrawadeen Goodjarga program helps the cultural engagement of Indigenous college students. “This system celebrates the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures of our college students,” Ms Bridges mentioned.
- The employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics, Studying Assist Officers and Specialists enhances pupil success and is a creating future focus.
A profession led by Religion
Ms Bridges is a former pupil of St Declan’s Penshurst, St Joseph’s Ladies College Kogarah and Mary Immaculate Girls School Sutherland, who has labored within the space of Aboriginal training in Catholic faculties for 20 years and in Catholic training for greater than 30 years.
“I used to be the primary feminine assistant principal in a Sydney Catholic boys highschool (De La Salle Catholic School Caringbah) and I’ve a Medal of the Order of Australia for my work in Aboriginal training in Catholic training,” Ms Bridges mentioned.
“Training was a precedence for our household.”
“My father was Aboriginal and he was solely allowed an training to Yr 6, which he accomplished at Crown Road Public College in Surry Hills,” Ms Bridges mentioned.
“Dad had a robust Catholic religion, so my brothers’ and sister’s training was fostered by the Sisters of St Joseph, the Marist Brothers and the Presentation Sisters.
“Every of us was challenged by our mum and pop to excel … [and] we’ve all pursued tutorial pathways and, in some ways, given to the Aboriginal communities of NSW.”
