Yarning with the Aunties

1. Yarning with the Aunties An Elders Program Lynne Kirkpatrick

2. Overview • Sunning Hill School is located inside Juniperina Juvenile Justice Centre • Traditional owners are DuragPeople • Only centre for young female offenders in NSW • Maximum enrolment is 36 Lynne Kirkpatrick

3. Cohort overview • 100% female • History of fractured school attendance • Difficulty with formal education • High levels of suspension • Lack of appropriate educational options • Low socio-economic circumstances • Mental health issues • 40%-60% Aboriginal Students Lynne Kirkpatrick

4. Cohort overview (cont) • Age range 12-18 years( committing the crime) • Average age is 16 years • Centre capacity is 46 • Stays vary according to the offence • Education ability varies – average reading age 10.0 and mathematics ability is stage 3 Lynne Kirkpatrick

5. Aboriginal Representation • Aboriginal juvenile incarceration continues to rise • Nationally Aboriginal young people = 54% of young people incarcerated • On an average night 1 in every 217 Aboriginal young people would be in detention • 91% of young people in detention are Aboriginal males Lynne Kirkpatrick

6. Mission • Increase the potential of students to return to the community • Create positive learning experiences • Cater for the diverse needs of students • Rigorous and varied curriculum • Quality education outcomes within a secure and safe learning environment • Recognition of efforts and celebration of achievements Lynne Kirkpatrick

7. Courses available • BOS • VET • OTEN • TAFE • TVET • Australian Children’s Music Foundation • Aboriginal mentoring • Pacific Island mentoring Lynne Kirkpatrick

8. Why did we develop the program? • 40%- 60% Indigenous cohort • Disconnect from the community • Disconnect from culture and histories • Disconnect from education • Society has low expectations of their capacity to contribute to the community • Disempowerment Lynne Kirkpatrick

9. Aunty Carol • Play Video Lynne Kirkpatrick

10. What was the aim of the program? • Cultural expression • Mentoring • Reconnection • Engagement • Write a children’s book Lynne Kirkpatrick

11. Who was the target group? • Initially all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island students • All students enrolled in Sunning Hill School Lynne Kirkpatrick

12. Links to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Education Action Plan 2010-2014 • Affirmation of the right to sustain ATSI Languages and Cultures • To accelerate improvements in educational outcomes of ATSI children and young people • To work in partnership with families and communities to support the education of ATSI children Lynne Kirkpatrick

13. Links to the School Plan • “To enhance the capacity of Aboriginal parents, families and community members to actively engage and participate in the education and training process and to close the achievement gap in education and training for Aboriginal students”. • Reconnection and engagement Lynne Kirkpatrick

14. Training • All teaching staff trained in the “8 Ways of Aboriginal Learning”(story telling, community links, land links, symbols and images) • Professional Development of the Elders Lynne Kirkpatrick

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16. Implementation • Introduced the Aunties to the morning literacy/numeracy session • Monthly hairdressing program • Monthly lunch for the students and the Aunties Lynne Kirkpatrick

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18. Review • What worked ? • What didn’t work? Lynne Kirkpatrick

19. New Direction • Review the timetable • Introduce Aboriginal Studies for all students • Continue the Hairdressing opportunities • Move the location of the lunch Lynne Kirkpatrick

20. Aboriginal Studies Speak, listen, read, write, view and represent the Aunties own stories Use language and communicate appropriately and effectively Think in ways that are imaginative and creative Express themselves and their relationships with others and the world Learn and reflect on their learning through building a rapport with the Aunties Lynne Kirkpatrick

21. Lesson Plans • Photography(digital and hard copy) • Develop timelines • Yarn about factors that contribute to identity • Create “Close the Gap-Aboriginal Health Day” event • Create a map of the Aunties’ environments • Draw detailed aspects of daily life using • Create a jewellery memory • Yarn about totems and images to be used in the children’s book • Use the Aunties photos to develop collages • Write the stories • Work with TAFE IT Teacher to put all completed images in a digital format Lynne Kirkpatrick

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28. Yarning with The Aunties • Book finally arrives back from the printers • We Celebrate • But Lynne Kirkpatrick

29. The book is not a children’s book!!!We have more to do Lynne Kirkpatrick

30. The Journey Continues • Consolidation of all the information and stories • The layout of the children’s book developed by the students • Drawing of the Aunties’ memories • Finally the book is off to the printers!! • Now we are finished Lynne Kirkpatrick

31. Outcomes • “The Aunties Remember” a children’s book • “Yarning with the Aunties” a story of the journey • A strong sense of pride in Identity for all students • Engagement in school and the programs offered Lynne Kirkpatrick

32. Reflection of the Aunties • Play Video Lynne Kirkpatrick