National Reconciliation Week provides an important opportunity for our School community to reflect on our shared history and strengthen our commitment to reconciliation.
National Reconciliation Week (27 May 3 -June) holds deep significance for our School community, as we reflect on our shared history and commit to building respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Across all AngliSchools, Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) guide this important work. At Peter Carnley Anglican Community School, we are proud to be in the Innovate stage of our RAP journey, which calls us to actively establish and sustain strong, mutually beneficial partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and organisations.
Our Reconciliation journey is lived out both in significant events and in everyday practices. At PCACS, our RAP is expressed through meaningful occasions such as Smoking Ceremonies and formal Acknowledgements of Country, as well as quieter, intentional moments—like greeting one another with the Noongar word “Kaya” instead of “hello.” These practices nurture respect, understanding, and a sense of shared belonging across our community.
During Reconciliation Week this year, the Calista campus was privileged to hear a special story from a local Aboriginal Elder, Chelsea, who is part of the Yelakitj Moort Nyungar Association. She shared cultural knowledge, a Dreamtime story and connected this to her personal experiences growing up in the Kwinana region. This powerful storytelling provided students and staff with a deeper appreciation of the richness of First Nations cultures and the importance of listening with open hearts. The Junior School has also received a PALS (Partnership Acceptance Learning Sharing) Grant this year to create projects that advance reconciliation.
As a School, we recognise that reconciliation is not confined to a single week but is an ongoing commitment. Through learning, relationship-building, and genuine respect, we continue to walk together toward a more just and united future.
Steve Wynhorst
Deputy Principal