Help for non-English speakers
If you need help to understand this policy, please contact Donald Eddington, Principal. Non-English speakers can also access Google translate at the bottom of this web page.
As valuable partners in promoting and maintaining child safety and wellbeing at William Ruthven Primary School, we welcome and encourage your feedback. If you have any suggestions, comments or questions in relation to our child safe policies and practices, please contact the Principal, Donald Eddington via email, donald.eddington@education.vic.gov.au.
Note: Throughout this document the term Koorie is used to refer to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
William Ruthven Primary School embraces the vision of the Marrung Aboriginal Education Plan and celebrates the culture, knowledge and experiences of First Nations Peoples. We are committed to creating and maintaining a school environment that empowers Koorie students to feel valued, respected and culturally strong.
Our school has a number of measures in place to ensure our community acknowledges and appreciates the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. These measures are outlined below.
Family and community perspectives and feedback
We actively seek participation and feedback from Koorie students, families and Community by:
working with our regional Koorie Engagement Support Officers (KESOs) for advice on how we can create a culturally inclusive learning environment and to build our capacity to provide support for individual Koorie students attending our school
Training and professional development of staff
To ensure our staff are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to create and maintain a positive and inclusive school environment we:
provide tailored training and professional development each year to build knowledge for specific staff based on any emerging or current areas of need
ensure training and professional development equips teaching staff to deliver Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives within the classroom curriculum
support teachers to work in their Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to map and develop teaching and learning activities within the Victorian Curriculum priorities to enable staff to build their confidence with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content and to recognise opportunities to draw upon Aboriginal pedagogies and practices within their classrooms
ensure training and professional development equips staff with an understanding and appreciation of the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and its importance to the wellbeing and safety of Koorie children and students.
Curriculum and learning
William Ruthven Primary School supports the development of high expectations and individualised learning for Koorie students and creates a learning environment for all students that acknowledges, respects and values Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and identities. This includes:
Assemblies and other school events and activities
We ensure our school events and activities acknowledge and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture by:
Built and digital environment
We ensure our built environment and our website demonstrates an appreciation and acknowledgment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through:
We recognise that our school’s practices must be regularly reviewed and updated in partnership with our families and local communities. We encourage you to contact the school with any feedback, concerns or suggestions via email: william.ruthven.ps@education.vic.gov.au.
Review and approval
