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Purnululu Aboriginal Independent Community School (PAICS) is situated in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia in a beautiful Gija community called Woorreranginy Community (Frog Hollow). PAICS provides quality education from years K-10 for families living in and around Frog Hollow. PAICS is committed to valuing traditional language and culture whilst equipping our students with the skills to excel in both Aboriginal and western society.
School /Community Partnership
Purnululu School is located in the remote Aboriginal Community of Woorreranginy. This location was known in the early days of British Settlement as “Frog Hollow Station” - the Station had a reputation of being one of the safest places for Aboriginal People in the Kimberley at a time when many atrocities were being committed against Aboriginal People in the Frontier Wars.
Frog Hollow has continued to be a place of safety and support for the Gija community. Purnululu School is committed to a safe and supportive school and a strong relationship between the school and the Gija community. Our school/community partnership agreement identifies the areas where the school and community work together for the benefit of the children and families the school serves.
You can read our agreement here: School Community Partnership
Child Safe School
In line with the National Principles for Childsafe Organisations, Purnululu School is a Childsafe Organisation.
A child safe organisation is one that creates a culture, adopts strategies and takes action to promote child wellbeing and prevent harm to children and young people.
A child safe organisation consciously and systematically:
Creates an environment where children’s safety and wellbeing is at the centre of thought, values and actions.
Places emphasis on genuine engagement with and valuing of children and young people.
Creates conditions that reduce the likelihood of harm to children and young people.
Creates conditions that increase the likelihood of identifying any harm.
Responds to any concerns, disclosures, allegations or suspicions of harm.
You can read more about the Principles here:National Principles for Childsafe Organisations and with specific reference to Aboriginal kids, the Keeping Our Kids Safe: Cultural Safety and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
Our school has adopted the Keeping Safe Child Protection Curriculum which has been developed by experts in Australia. It is taught every week in every class. Our teachers have been trained in how to use this program which is culturally appropriate for Aboriginal students and designed to teach children how to keep themselves safe (including online) and how to seek help or report a concern.
Our staff and governing body members abide by a Code of Conduct and complete annual training in the reporting of child abuse, including Mandatory Reporting of child sexual abuse. We regularly review our policies and procedures to ensure student safety and welfare. We consult with students about our policies and their Student Code of Conduct which prevents bullying and harrassment, and respects their dignity and privacy.
The Director General of Education in Western Australia monitors the school’s compliance with these standards and has authority to respond to instances of non-compliance.
Parents, carers and community members should contact the school immediately on 9168 7392 or by emailing principal@purnululuschool.wa.edu.au if they have concerns about the behaviour of a student, staff member or governing body member. Reports to the school are confidential and your identity will be protected when reporting a concern in good faith. Alternatively, you can contact local police or the Department for Communities to report a concern.
Click here to read more about our Student Safety and Complaints Policy
Gija curriculum grounded on Gija country
We have developed a curriculum that is truly unique in Australia and the first of its kind in Aboriginal Education in Western Australia. The Gija community work closely with teachers to develop a rich and culturally responsive curriculum that is centred on Gija stories, language, kinship and connection to Country. Our aim is to provide the next generation of Gija children with a strong foundation in Gija language, and culture while also having the ability to participate confidently in mainstream Australian society.
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Gija Language is at the Centre of our curriculum. The Language is at the heart of Gija Culture. Our whole school plan and Gija Language Curriculum are the foundation for planning our teaching and learning programs across all learning areas.
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One of the impacts of colonisation is the emergence of Gija Kriol which is a language derived from early contact between Gija speakers and English speakers. This language has now become the first language of the children born and raised on Gija Country. We draw on children’s strengths in their Mother Tongue to teach them literacy while also providing a language revival program for their Traditional Gija Language.
Our students are multilingual and Standard Australian English is the language of instruction at school.
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Our curriculum is developed around a cycle of Gija Dreaming Stories that integrates across all these learning areas. We work with Elders, language speakers, story keepers, linguists, artists and curriculum consultants to develop a unique Gija curriculum that is grounded on Country. We draw on the Arts to enrich student learning across all the learning areas.
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Our students learn mathematics and English through culturally responsive teaching methods and hands on inquiry.
Whole School Curriculum plans
Purnululu School is currently working with the Schools Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA), Western Australia, to gain alternative curriculum status across all learning areas.
Our curriculum still meets the Standards of Education across all areas, however we have applied Gija knowledge, ways of knowing and cultural protocols to the curriculum we deliver at the school. We believe this is a culturally responsive and relevant curriculum for Gija students.
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This page is under construction. Please return to see our plan.
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This page is under construction. Please return to see our plan.
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This page is under construction. Please return to see our plan.
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This page is under construction. Please return to see our plan.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.
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Every dollar donated to Purnululu School goes to providing opportunities for the students and young people to achieve success in positive academic, vocational and community outcomes.
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