Aboriginal education

At Berkeley Vale Campus, we are committed to and proud of our strong Aboriginal culture. We honour the identity, voice and achievements of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students every day.  Celebrating Success:  We are proud to acknowledge the exceptional achievements of our Aboriginal students, who in 2025 outperformed the state and statistically similar schools in every NAPLAN domain, with all Year 10 students also meeting their HSC minimum standards.

Amanda Munro, Head Teacher Aboriginal Education

Tamara Maher, SLSO Aboriginal Education

Taya White, SLSO Aboriginal Education

Keira Wright, SLSO Aboriginal Education

Matt Kiddle, Clontarf Director

Josh Dargan, Clontarf

Dane Allen, Clontarf

^{Clontarf Academy}

We are privileged to host a Clontarf Academy on campus. Clontarf mentors support young Aboriginal men through education, wellbeing, leadership, employment preparation and sport, helping them build strong pathways to a positive future.

Aboriginal Student Leadership (ASL)

Cultural Captain: Tylah Knapton

Our Aboriginal Student Leadership roll call groups provide daily connection, mentoring and support. This vertical structure brings students of all ages together, building leadership, cultural pride and a strong sense of belonging.

Literacy and Numeracy groups

Our Literacy and Numeracy groups provide structured, small-group instruction designed to grow students’ skills, confidence and achievement in reading, writing and number sense.

Strong Partnerships and Community Connections

We work closely with the Kuriwa Aboriginal Educational Consultative Group (AECG) and our local community to ensure authentic representation and decision-making. Our dedicated Aboriginal Education Team collaborates with staff, tutors, Elders, and local Aboriginal organisations to support cultural, academic, artistic, and wellbeing initiatives.

Opportunities for Students

Throughout the year, students participate in a wide range of cultural, leadership, academic, and sporting experiences, including:

• AECG and Junor AECG leadership programs
• Community events, cultural festivals (GulangFest, NAIDOC)
• University visits, art and writing competitions
• The Ngura wellbeing program, Sista Speak and Bro Speak
• Indigenous sport and talent identification events
• Cultural camps and excursions
• BVC NAIDOC Festival raises funds annually to support local Aboriginal causes and charities.

Cultural Camp on Palm Island

Learning on Country

All Year 7 students spend a day on Country at Wyrrabalong National Park, learning about bush foods and medicines, storytelling and traditional games — strengthening understanding and appreciation of local culture.

Pirru Thangkuray: Run by Kuriwa AECG, this cultural engagement and goal-setting program supports Aboriginal students in Years 8–12 in developing pathways to the HSC while maintaining strong cultural identity.

Aboriginal Dance Group: Our Aboriginal Dance Group works with NAISDA, Bangarra and local Elders to create cultural performances shared proudly with the community.

Ngura and Ngura Surf Camp: The Ngura Program connects students to Country through physical activity, wellbeing education, and Aboriginal cultural knowledge. The annual surf camp strengthens identity, confidence and community connection through cultural storytelling and outdoor learning.

Yarning Circle: Our on-site Yarning Circle is a special place for students to connect, share stories and strengthen respectful relationships.

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