Our College stands on Bunurong Country, and we acknowledge the Bunurong People as the Traditional Owners of this land. We pay our respects to Bunurong Elders past, present and emerging, and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are part of the EMC community.
We celebrate the continuous living cultures of the First Peoples of Australia, and acknowledge the important contributions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have and continue to make in Australian society. We support the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We are especially grateful for the contributions of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples involved in our College community, and their generosity in sharing their culture and knowledge with us.
In 2023, the College is proud to acknowledge our 38 Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students and their families. We want our students, our families, to feel celebrated and safe. We seek and create opportunities celebrate the strength and the potential of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and our students becoming emerging young leaders within the First Nations Peoples.
Our vision is for the College to be regarded as leading best practice for engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and embedding Koorie education across our whole school. We aim to continue working in partnership so that students, families, staff and the wider community have a voice.
Our curriculum also explores intercultural capability to develop knowledge, skills and understandings to reflect on how cultural beliefs and practices contribute to individual, group and national identities.
Marrung Strategy
In 2016, The Department of Education developed Marrung, strategy to ensure that all Koorie Victorians achieve their learning aspirations. Aunty Geraldine, who some Elisabeth Murdoch College students have met, is the President of the Victoria Aboriginal Education Association (VAEAI), and said that “The Victorian Government, through the Department of Education and Training, has worked with the Victorian Koorie community to develop Marrung. The Government has listened and has heard. Marrung sets out a 10 year vision and identifies the significant actions its achievement. From this plan there will be some ground-breaking change.” This plan aims to strengthen Victoria to be a state where:
- the rich and thriving culture, knowledge and experience of our First Nations peoples are celebrated by all Victorians
- our universal service systems are inclusive, responsive and respectful of Koorie people at every stage of their learning and development journey
- every Koorie person achieves their potential, succeeds in life, and feels strong in their cultural identity.
Narragunnawali
Reconciliation Australia’s Narragunnawali program supports all schools and early learning services in Australia to foster a higher level of knowledge and pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions.
Elisabeth Murdoch College is proud to be one of 6 government secondary schools in Victoria with an endorsed Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). The RAP aims to strengthen relationships, respect and opportunities in the classroom, around the school and with the community. To learn more and view our RAP, visit: https://www.narragunnawali.org.au/raps/22935/elisabeth-murdoch-college.
Key contacts / resources
Stephanie Raike – Koorie Engagement and Education Team Leader – stephanie.raike@education.vic.gov.au
Brian Walker – DET Bayside Peninsula Koorie Engagement Support Officer – Brian.Walker@education.vic.gov.au
DET Koorie Outcomes Division – marrung@edumail.vic.gov.au
Marrung Educational Plan – https://www.vic.gov.au/marrung
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc – http://www.vaeai.org.au/