Woodville High School Reconciliation Action Plan

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (14:35): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Will the minister inform the council on his recent attendance at the Woodville High School's reconciliation assembly?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:35): I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in this area. I am most pleased to inform him about my recent attendance at Woodville High School's reconciliation assembly.

I had the privilege a little while ago to be invited to the reconciliation assembly for Woodville High School. It was a couple of hours after this chamber sat until 7am one morning so I was a bit bleary-eyed when I got there. However, it was a privilege and a pleasure to be there, with the assembly focusing on the launch of Woodville High School's Reconciliation Action Plan and, after the school's 108-year history, they were understandably proud in launching their first RAP.

Woodville High prides itself on its culturally diverse community and, representative of their strategic plan, strives to create an inclusive environment where everyone belongs, feels valued, and is heard and respected regardless of their background or cultural identity. In particular, Woodville High has continually demonstrated its commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in the classroom, having tailored a number of its traditional subjects, like art, food technology and outdoor education, to incorporate First Nations practices and wisdom. In the school's words:

[The Reconciliation Action Plan] is committed to working in partnership with parents, children and communities of the oldest living culture on earth, celebrating First Nations peoples' wisdom and deep understanding of the spiritual connections to country, culture, heritage and sustainability.

Woodville High acknowledges that its Reconciliation Action Plan was launched with a commitment to transforming the voices, actions and partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in their community.

The Reconciliation Action Plan in South Australian schools, and the associated actions within it, can play an extremely important role in our state's reconciliation journey for many reasons. It provides an opportunity to acknowledge the historical truths faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people throughout the history of this nation, it promotes a more accurate understanding of this shared history, and can contribute to a more inclusive and honest understanding of the shared nation's past.

It promotes understanding and appreciation of the rich cultural heritage of Australia's First Nations people by acknowledging and valuing Indigenous knowledge systems, languages and customs that can help schools create an environment that respects and celebrates diversity. As we all know, reconciliation plays a significant role in healing wounds caused by injustices in the past. In schools, reconciliation initiatives can and have contributed to building positive relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, parents and communities, helping foster empathy, understanding and unity, and a sense of belonging for all involved.

It was great on the day to see the assembly led by Aboriginal student leaders, and I would like to congratulate those students on doing such an amazing job. It is certainly no easy task speaking to crowds of your own peers at school, numbered in the hundreds. The assembly was also filled with wonderful demonstrations of song and dance and, when leaving, it left me filled with hope and inspired by the next generation. Congratulations to Woodville High School on their inaugural Reconciliation Action Plan, and I look forward to seeing progress against the plan's initiatives.