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Wesley College offers AIEF Scholarships for boarding students.
As a Uniting Church school, Wesley College, South Perth is committed to Reconciliation and Social Justice. The College continues to support and welcomes a positive working partnership with AIEF. In 2023, there were four AIEF Scholarship Students who graduated from Wesley College.
Wesley College sits on Wadjuk Nyoongar Country on the banks of the Derbarl Yerrigan in South Perth. In 2023, we had 47 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled at the college. They come from many different geographical locations and cultures across Western Australia. Our cultural program, The Moorditj Mob, complements mainstream education at Wesley College. Moorditj is the Nyoongar word for strong or excellent, and the word represents the strength and resilience that students develop while they are at the college.
The cultural program is, in essence, a Nyoongar program that teaches students the language and culture of the Nyoongar people. However, as the students at the college come from all over Western Australia, they also bring their own knowledge and identities which they share with Nyoongar and non-Aboriginal students. The Wesley College Boarding House offers students a safe environment where all students can dedicate time to their academic and sporting commitments, as well as to the ongoing provision of pastoral support.
As a major part of the Moorditj Mob program, the students perform traditional and contemporary dance, play the didgeridoo and complete various art projects. Additionally, the students work with local Nyoongar Elders to learn and develop knowledge about their culture. As students become competent in dance and didgeridoo, they develop an understanding of traditional knowledge and pride in sharing culture and knowledge with others. Students are invited to perform at numerous events across the state where they share and learn with the community.
The Moorditj Mob play a significant role in the local community and work closely with Indigenous organisations, local universities and government schools to offer students the best possible cultural education. The values and objectives of the Moorditj Mob program are infectious and infiltrate the students’ local communities, encouraging others to see the importance of a good education as being part of living a full and well-rounded life.
In 2023, the Moorditj Mob have delivered around 50 dance performances both at the Wesley College and in the wider community. Significant events included the Wesley Centenary Ball, Madalah Ball, National Allied Health Conference and the Zero to Hero Youth Mental Health Conference. The students have also delivered a number of performances at schools and workplaces relating to NAIDOC and Reconciliation Week.
Additionally, to mark the College’s centenary this year, the Moorditj by Moonlight event was held. This event was a celebration of Indigenous culture which showcased not only performances by the Wesley College students but students from other schools as well.
Once again, this year the College delivered a combined NAIDOC and Reconcilation Week. In consultation with staff the Moorditj Mob students led and delivered a number of activities across all sub schools which included a sand mural, storytelling, art activities and a dance performance in front of the entire school.
In addition to the cultural content of the Moorditj Mob program, there continues to be an increased emphasis on academic support, with students increasingly engaging in tuition both during and after school hours. Senior school students increased their engagement in career transition programs such as work experience, INSTEP and school-based traineeship opportunities. This year three AIEF students in Year 12 completed school-based traineeships in the area of Building and Construction.
Moving into 2024, the aim of Wesley College will be to maintain the strong cultural content of the program whilst also looking to further develop and strengthen the academic support and career guidance provided to all students.
Your investment will help more Indigenous students access world-class education and careers.
We’re very happy to have been able to support the Work Readiness Workshop and after meeting some of the AIEF students it’s really clear what positive outcomes are being achieved.
Australian Indigenous Education Foundation
Suite 2A, Level 2
2-12 Foveaux Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
T (02) 8373 8000
F (02) 8373 8001
info@aief.com.au
www.aief.com.au
ABN 13 127 908 187