First Nations Leaders
The First Nations Leaders promote the participation and gives voice to our First Nations students and families, both within the College and in the wider community.
Responsibilities include:
- Having the ability to represent the College community in the area of First Nations and to take a leading role in this area within the College.
- Demonstrating creativity and energy in student involvement in First Nations/Indigenous projects and events.
- Keeping the school body informed about First Nations/Indigenous initiatives within the College via assemblies, the College Newsletter and social media, and the daily bulletins.
- Coordinating and/or assisting in various First Nations/indigenous initiatives and projects within the College.
Hi I’m Lilah Weston.
A proud Yorta Yorta woman from Shepparton Cummerganjua. I am one of the First Nations Leaders for 2026. I’ve been at Notre Dame College since Year 7 in 2022- I am Year 11 in 2026.
I love playing netball, hanging out with friends and family and being on country. I love going out bush, camping and swimming in the river with my cousins. I have done Welcome in the past when I was a child with an Elder, Aunty Merl.
I am very excited to work alongside our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and give support, encouragement and share culture as they begin their journey at Notre Dame College.
Hi, my name is Nikiri Atkinson.
I am a First Nations Leader for 2026. I am a proud Ngarrindjerri and Yorta Yorta woman. I have attended Notre Dame College for almost five years, having started in 2022.
I enjoy playing netball, horse riding, spending time with my family, and going down to the Dungala River (Murray River). From a young age, I have been involved with Rumbalara Co-operative and the Rumbalara Football and Netball Club, and I continue to stay strongly connected today.
Being connected to Country is very important to me, and I enjoy going bush to clear my mind and reconnect when I need time away from things.
I am really excited to meet the new Koorie students, and I look forward to supporting them by providing new experiences, sharing knowledge, and helping them feel strong, safe, and proud of who they are.
Reconciliation
Reconciliation and the education of Indigenous students is a very important part of the Catholic Education experience at Notre Dame College.
We have a significant focus on the celebration of Indigenous cultures and a very active group of staff and students who are commissioned Fire Carriers. The annual Reconciliation Assembly is an example of one of the ways we celebrate the local Indigenous people and their spirituality and stories within the life of our College.
FIRE Carrier Programme
The aim of the FIRE (Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education) Carrier Project is to promote respect, justice, enculturation and reconciliation for all Aboriginal people.
To be a FIRE Carrier is to exercise an important leadership role in the school community. FIRE carriers are students and teachers that share a passion for learning about Aboriginal culture and history and are committed to sharing this knowledge and promoting reconciliation and justice within and beyond the school community.
This year Notre Dame held their FIRE Carrier Commissioning at Winton Wetlands.
Notre Dame College Covenant
A covenant is a sacred agreement.
Covenants emphasize the ethos and faith belief of Catholic schools and the Social Justice response they are committed to make as part of their Christian identity. Schools’ expressed commitment is reflected in practical goals and actions which they strive to achieve in the year ahead.
School covenants express in ways, specific to each school, recognition of the special contribution Aboriginal peoples and their cultures make to Australian society, their relationship and spiritual connection to the land. They declare the school and school community’s commitment to stand in solidarity with Aboriginal peoples to achieve true reconciliation and acknowledgement, by all Australians, of their rightful position within Australian society.
FIRE Carrier Covenant est. 2021Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Educator
At Notre Dame College we have an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education (ATSIE) support worker who provides assistance to our students.
Their role is to:
- Empower First Nations students and families to take ownership responsibility school.
- Assist teachers in developing and delivering a culturally diverse curriculum.
- Provide cultural awareness to all students and staff at Notre Dame College.
- Provide assistance and support to First Nations students to achieve improved educational outcomes.
- Support staff in understanding the educational, health and wellbeing needs of First Nations students.
- Provide assistance to Pastoral Group Leaders, Heads of House and the Director of the Year 9 Program.
- Meet with all First Nations students at Knight Street and Emmaus.
- Liaise with various First Nations support agencies with regard to achieving successful outcomes.
- Act as a support person/mentor to First Nations students wherever required.
- Oversee the development of Individual Cultural Plans for each First Nations student at Notre Dame College.
- Assist parents of First Nations students to complete forms, applications and obtaining Aboriginal Identification etc. where required.
- Maintain and nurture strong community links.
- To be a conduit between school and community.
Indigenous Youth Leadership Program
The Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (IYLP) offers scholarships and leadership opportunities to young, First Nations Australians, with a focus on Indigenous youth from remote or regional communities.
The IYLP gives Indigenous young people the opportunity to study at high performing secondary schools and gain practical leadership experiences, personal development, and mentoring.
Madec’s IYLP scholarship program is designed to assist participating students to successfully complete year 12 and transition to further education or employment. The program also aims to enable participants to take advantage of opportunities they might not otherwise have the access to.
Ganbina
Notre Dame College maintains a close partnership with Ganbina. Ganbina is Australia’s most successful Indigenous school-to-work transition program, working closely with Valerie Atkinson who has over 20 years experience in the field of Koori Education.
Australians Together
Notre Dame College is excited to be part of a 3 years research project with Australians Together (AT).
Australians Together (AT) are a not-for-profit organisation committed to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) people and addressing injustices and inequities. This is achieved by developing better integration of First Nations content into curriculum and utilising ready-to-use resources produced by AT. Professional development sessions will be conducted by Federation University doctors, Dr. Sara Weuffen and Dr Aleryk Fricker to support teachers to embed AT resources into their lessons.
Objectives:
- Capture First Nations students and community lived experiences of schooling.
- Provide broad spectrum professions development to all teachers at Notre Dame College.
- Provide hands-on more specific curriculum and pedagogical coaching similar to teaching spirits model to embed resources into existing practices for impactful outcomes.
Rumbalara Aged Care
Activities with the residents of Rumbalara aged care is a positive program for students, which reinforces and promotes strong cultural connections within their community. Both elders and students build nurturing relationships and students create stronger spiritual connections with their elders.