Our Acknowledgement of Country
We pay our deepest respects to Elders past and present and honour the continuing spiritual, cultural and educational connection the Whadjuk Noongar people hold with this land. At all major school events, we lead with an Acknowledgement of Country, and where appropriate, a Welcome to Country is delivered by students who have been guided by local Elders.
RAP Working Group
Our RAP has been developed collaboratively by staff, families and community members, including:
- Principal Nicole Borbas
- Deputy Principal Craig Stein
- Classroom Teachers Ellie McKay, Danni Whitcombe and Dylan O’Connor
- School Board and parent contributors
This working group guides our reconciliation actions and ensures they are meaningful, respectful and reflective of our school community.
Key Focus Areas
- Relationships
We are committed to building strong, respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, families and community members.
In the Classroom
- We involve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices in teaching and learning.
- We invite Elders, knowledge holders and community members to share stories, culture and lived experiences.
- Aboriginal perspectives, languages, and cultural practices are integrated into curriculum planning.
Around the School
- Staff engage in ongoing cultural responsiveness training.
- Teachers reflect on their practice to ensure culturally safe and inclusive learning environments.
- We collaborate on visible reconciliation projects, including Indigenous artwork and culturally informed learning spaces.
With the Community
- Significant events begin with a Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country.
- We celebrate National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week through learning activities, displays, incursions and community involvement.
- We are committed to forming long-term partnerships with local Aboriginal families, organisations and Elders.
- Respect
Our RAP strengthens respect for Aboriginal histories, cultures, languages and contributions across the whole school.
- Cultural protocols inform how we engage respectfully with our community.
- Aboriginal stories, artworks, perspectives and teaching practices (such as yarning circles and on-Country learning) are embedded into school life.
- We support staff to build cultural knowledge so they can confidently teach and model respect for First Nations cultures.
- Opportunities
We create meaningful opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to celebrate their identities and share their culture.
- Students are encouraged to participate in cultural storytelling, artwork, language learning and leadership opportunities.
- We ensure Aboriginal students feel seen, supported and celebrated in both academic and cultural learning.
- All students benefit from rich cultural programs that build understanding, empathy and inclusion.
Our Commitment
Reconciliation is an ongoing journey. Through this RAP, we commit to:
- Listening to our local Aboriginal community
- Building respectful partnerships
- Embedding First Nations perspectives across learning
- Creating a school environment that honours the world’s oldest living cultures
Our goal is to ensure that every student at Maida Vale Primary School grows with an appreciation of Australia’s shared history and feels part of a connected, inclusive learning community.
