Worawa is a full boarding school catering for girls in the middle years of schooling; Years 7-12. An Aboriginal community initiative, Worawa was established in 1983 on Aboriginal-owned land. It is governed by Aboriginal people. Students are from Aboriginal communities across Australia. The College seeks preferred futures for young women who present with complex issues. Girls present at the College having experienced individual factors which have impacted on their ability to focus on education. Students live and study in a supportive and nurturing environment that fosters positive cultural identity and individual potential.
The College operates in an Aboriginal framework based on Aboriginal values. Worawa provides a holistic education program integrating education, culture and wellbeing – ensuring students have the opportunity to progress academically, socially, emotionally, culturally and spiritually. The College aims to harness the potential of girls to learn and develop the academic skills, knowledge, confidence and attitude as future leaders. ‘living skills’ to prepare them for living in the school community and beyond.
Worawa Aboriginal College offers these three essentials.
As you can find out in this website, the College is on lovely country in the Yarra Valley east of Melbourne. All our students live in. House parents look after them in small groups and during term time, we run a seven-day-a-week program.
We only enrol girls, although some of our partner schools have boys and we sometimes share activities with them.
We only enrol years 7 – 12 and concentrate on providing a proud and modern Indigenous education. Each girl has a personal learning program designed for her. After year 10, we help students to go on to TAFE or to senior certificate through a network of partner schools. For students approved by ABSTUDY, Worawa is free. Other students will need to pay some fees unless they win a scholarship. Worawa is a great opportunity. Our Elders or we would be glad to talk with you about it.
Worawa is located on culturally significant land of great natural beauty. The Worawa Dreaming Trail is a focal point for the celebration of Aboriginal culture and tradition. Students learn about Aboriginal technology and science as well as the history of the Aboriginal tribes and clans connected to this important site. Access to the river and natural bushland provides for the teaching of cultural knowledge from Elders.
Worawa assists Aboriginal students to establish themselves in Australian society with a strong sense of Aboriginal identity and self-esteem. With hundreds of Aboriginal students attending from across Australia, many have overcome significant barriers to achieve their chosen goals. We, at Worawa, take immense pride in assisting our students to reach their full potential.
Emphasis is placed on threading culture through the curriculum and involving Aboriginal artists and other role models through a series of activities. The young women who pass through Worawa become strong and independent people, confident in their culture and Aboriginal identity and ready to take their place in the world.
Worawa encourages an active lifestyle. Involvement in sport, personal fitness plans, circuit training, marathons and fun runs, movement through dance and nutritionally balanced meals to ensure the health and well-being of all students. Some of the healthy lifestyle initiatives include:
There are a number of ways in which Worawa approaches supporting young Aboriginal women to develop skills and confidence in practising wellbeing in everyday life. Some of these are ongoing programs at the College while other initiatives have provided skills through shorter-term projects.
The impacts of trauma, abuse and disadvantage have a profound effect on the ability for young people to take advantage of educational opportunities. For this reason, there is an inclusion of program activities selected as a therapeutic means of addressing the prevalence of emotional and psychological distress and need among Worawa students, arising in part from a direct or indirect experience of family violence and its consequences.
A wellbeing and health assessment is conducted with every new student and with students returning to the school from holiday breaks. This practice normalizes for students paying attention to physical and emotional wellbeing. The initial wellbeing assessment focuses on the student settling into the school and providing a space for students to bring up any issues they may be having. Often wellbeing issues will arise as the student builds trust with Worawa staff and feels safe to disclose information or concerns. If required counselling with the school psychologist or a specialist service, such as CASA house is provided.
The school nurse works with the student on the health assessment using an outline of the body as a visual cue to assist create a discussion about the student’s body and where they may be having any issues. The nurse explains that this is a quick head to toe check. This process develops the students’ mindfulness of their body and ability to identify their own health issues by pointing this out on a drawn body. This also allows the student to get to know the nurse so that if the student is experiencing any health issues the student has met the nurse and knows whom she is and what she does. The assessment also includes: family history, allergies and a basic physical assessment are also taken (pulse, blood pressure, temperature, respiratory assessment, weight and height).
A picture of the body outline, explanation of a wellbeing and health assessment is included in the orientation booklet for families and students. Occasionally, students seek assistance with physical ailments that stem from or are related to trauma and stress. Commonly these can be headaches, nausea, vomiting, anxiety or insomnia. While all ailments are taken seriously, students are taught to be mindful of body, mind and spirit so they can identify stress and trauma symptoms and implement the skills they have learnt to address these issues.
Students nutrition is considered important and students have a menu designed by a dietician and during the week do not have ‘sometimes foods’, such as junk food, lollies or soft drinks. On weekends students are guided with moderation in regard to buying and consuming ‘sometimes foods’. Students are encouraged to play a sport on the weekends, such as netball, soccer, basketball, softball and more, to gain fitness, reduce stress, develop team skills, build school pride and increase social confidence. Students are able to access programs such as ‘Love the Skin You’re In’ and a body image program has also been implemented with students aiming to build body confidence and allow students to critically analyse depictions of women in media and popular culture.
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Worawa Aboriginal College has been a transformative experience for my daughter; the dedicated staff and vibrant curriculum have truly inspired her growth and enthusiasm for learning.
By Sophia Turner (Apr, 2024) |