Ethical Partners is very proud to be supporting the cost of educating a Gawura student that commenced year 7 in 2020. The support provided will give this student pathways that will set him up for life.
Gawura is a unique, coeducational K-6 school for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who live close to Sydney’s CBD. Located within St Andrew’s Cathedral School, Gawura is the first free-standing, deliberately all Indigenous school in the NSW independent sector. When students leave Gawura they are offered a scholarship to St Andrew’s Cathedral School for years 7 to 12.
Students on a Gawura secondary scholarship have the support of a full time Aboriginal Education Mentor who provides educational support, cultural advice and works as a liaison between school and families. Students attend Homework Club three times a week to check in, discuss their work and yarn with each other.
Gawura students go on a cultural excursion every term to learn more about the Eora Nation on which our school stands. Students also go on an annual On Country excursion to expand their cultural learning to different Nations. Students have travelled to Wiradjuri Nation, Yuin Nation and will next travel to Kuku Yalanji Nation in North Queensland.
Gawura scholarships give students access to music tuition, equipment needed for sport and other out of school activities to ensure a well-rounded education.
In very small classes, with a maximum of five students per grade, literacy and numeracy is taught intensively with cultural learning and language embeddedinto every lesson. All students learn Wiradjuri Language to year 6.
Teachers work with families to focus on the individual needs of students and there is access to additional support through occupational therapy and speech therapy if needed.
Gawura has nine Indigenous staff members who foster high expectations in students to do their best, and to be the best person they can.
Opened in 2007, Gawura’s graduates have gone on to do amazing things. One is studying a Masters at Oxford, another is in the first year of his medical degree, at UNSW while another graduate is working on her PhD. All have said their time in Gawura gave them a great connection to their culture.
Gawura was established in response to the difference in educational outcome between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. The Gawura program is specialised and very cost intensive, particularly when students graduate into high school and receive only 5% of the cost of their education in government funding. Education is vital for our nation if we are to be concerned about justice, fairness and our traditional concept of ‘a fair go’.