Koorie Education team - Wannik Implementation

The Northern Metropolitan Regional office is pleased to announce the employment of two Koorie education workers who form part of the Koorie Education Team in the Northern Region.

Koorie Education Coordinator:   James Atkinson James comes to northern region with extensive experience in the Koorie Education sector having worked in the Education for ten years. James first began in the TAFE area with the development and implementation of the Wurreker strategy for koorie students in TAFE. More recently over the last three years having being requested to come across and work in the schooling sector, James with his experience was then involved in the review of Koorie education in the schooling sector which formed the development of the Wannik strategy for Koorie Students in Victoria.

Koorie Home School Liaison Officer: Ralph Bamblett Ralph comes to the northern region from similar educational background having worked with Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI) for the last two years. During this time Ralph worked firstly in the school unit within VAEAI on a number VCAL projects and more recently working in the TAFE unit at VAEAI on the State Training Plan for Koorie students in TAFE.

The regional office focus on Koorie education and the Koorie Education team primary role will be the implementation of the Wannik Strategy across all schools in the Northern region.

Wannik (Learning Together - Journey to Our Future) Wannik, from the Gunai/Kurnai language meaning, ‘Learning Together- Journey to Our Future’ is the Department of Education and Early Childhood Developments’ new Education Strategy for Koorie Students in Victoria.

The overarching principle of the Government’s strategy is about delivering the best possible education to Victoria’s Koorie students.

Wannik represents a new era of collaboration in Victoria where the system will reposition the education of Koorie students within all of our schools through strong leadership that creates a culture of high expectations and individualised learning for Koorie students.

Teacher’s Tools for school Planning for Koorie Education in NMR Wannik requires all government schools to develop an individual education plan (IEP) for every Koorie student. The regional office Koorie Education Team is currently working on a Koorie Education Learning Plan that will be used by all schools. This plan will outlines the role of the plans, the key elements of an effective individual education plan and the implementation. The Wannik strategy also encourages the use by all schools of the Students At Risk Mapping Tool (Word - 65Kb) - This summary information sheet outlines the process and provides links to the tools. Information on Mathematics Education in Victorian Schools (Word - 82Kb) - This information provides an outline of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards for Mathematics education in Victorian schools that feature resources that place the learner at the centre of curriculum planning and delivery. The Inclusion of Culturally Inclusive Curriculum in schools in which the region in consultation with VAEAI, Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority have held discussion in the development of such a project. Wannik also encouraged the participation of schools in the Dare to Lead program. The region whilst encouraging participation strongly recommends that all school in the northern region need to do this in consulatation with the regional office Koorie education team. The Dare to Lead website gives details the support it offers to schools in Victoria. Wannik also encouraged the participation What Works. The Work Program - The regional office would also recommend that this is done in consultation with the regional office Koorie Education Team. What Works” this resource is a set of planning and professional development materials designed to help teachers and school administrators who work in a school which has Indigenous students. The region is very close to finalising the Wannik implementation plan for the northern region over the next two years and will be making contact will all schools in the very near future.