McAuley College’s reconciliation journey continues to gain momentum, with students in the school’s Jarjum group helping lead the way through cultural learning, leadership, and connection.
It’s been nearly a year since the launch of the college’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), and Cultural Leader Miss Tess Macoboy said the focus has shifted from symbolic gestures to lasting change.
“Now, our job is to solidify those initiatives and ensure that our visible work is not tokenistic and is actually the norm at McAuley College,” she said.
Led by Miss Macoboy and teacher Amy Schultz, the Jarjum group – comprised of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Years 7 to 12 – has become a more consistent and structured space for cultural education.
“This group has existed for years, but staffing and scheduling meant it wasn’t always consistent,” Miss Macoboy said.
“Since Term 4 last year, we’ve been meeting fortnightly with a clear focus for each term.”
In Term 1, students explored sacred sites and the importance of Country and Place, supported by a cultural excursion led by Mununjali man Jermayne Williams.
While Miss Macoboy couldn’t attend, she said students gave “really positive feedback.”
“A highlight was learning about canoe trees and how Mununjali people carved canoes without harming the tree,” she said.
“The totem pole in Gleneagle also sparked conversations around South Sea Islander displacement – these are sites we pass often, but don’t always stop to learn from.”
The Jarjum group’s growing visibility on campus is helping foster cultural understanding among the wider student body.
“We’ve embedded opportunities that help students feel proud to be part of the group, and staff and students are now more aware of who the Jarjums are and what they do,” she said.
Community involvement remains central to McAuley’s RAP, with guidance from Mununjali Elders Aunty Janis and Aunty Gerri Page and local voices such as Mark Buckland helping shape the group’s direction.
“Their wisdom helps guide our steps,” Miss Macoboy said.
“We also listen to our students, and many have roots across Australia, so we want them to feel seen, heard, and proud of where they come from.”
