In May, Perth College joined the rest of Australia in acknowledging National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week – a chance for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
In support of this year’s theme 'More than a word. Reconciliation takes action', an assembly was held with an Acknowledgement of Country, a Noongar song performed by Kindergarten students, and a speech from Year 9 student, Jorjah, about the purpose of National Reconciliation Week and the School’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Launched last year, the RAP shows our commitment to our role in the collective journey towards reconciliation and has continued this year with action in the classroom, around the School and within the community to drive change.
Throughout National Reconciliation Week, students also participated in an art installation project, constructing a symbolic pathway on Lawley Crescent to demonstrate how we, as a community, walk together with First Nations people on a path to reconciliation. Junior School students also took part in a National Acknowledgement of Country, joining thousands of people across Australia to acknowledge the traditional owners of the Country on which we live, work and learn.
Later in the year, in September, Perth College celebrated the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through NAIDOC Week.
Set against this year’s theme of ‘Heal Country’, some of the highlights included tours of the Bush Tucker Garden, a Great Book Swap to raise funds for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, incursions, excursions and a special assembly.
NAIDOC Week at Perth College 
NAIDOC Week at Perth College 
NAIDOC Week at Perth College 
NAIDOC Week at Perth College
Sharing Dance Passion Through Dandjoo Midar
The Senior School eP!C Youth Co. Dance Collective established a new project this year to unite dancers from different backgrounds and experience levels through a passion of dance.
Dandjoo Midar, which means ‘Together Dances’ in Noongar, has seen 15 students work with special guest artists and local
Elders throughout the year with the stimulus of the Six Noongar Seasons.
They have worked with both Olman Walley, who led an immersive interactive workshop, and Nadia Martich from the Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, who mentored students through improvisational choreographic processes.
Dance and Drama Academic Co-ordinator, Samanda Sankowsky, said the process had allowed staff and students to get to know each other through the language of dance.
“As the seasons have continued to change, the dancers have worked together utilising their own dance experience, as well as the learned processes and choreographic tools, to explore each Noongar season through Contemporary Dance movement,” she said.
The project will culminate at the end of this year in six contemporary dance works at Presentation Night.
