Lake Cargelligo Central School | Culturally Nourishing Schooling

Respectful, Responsible, Learners

Lake Cargelligo Central School is situated in Wiradjuri Country and maintains connections with the Barkindji and Ngiyampaa peoples who reside on this land. The school has a strong relationship with the Murrin Bridge Community, a place of great significance and ongoing connection. Many Aboriginal people living in the town grew up in Murrin Bridge, where they spent time with relatives and where children could often be found swimming in the Lachlan River, which serves as one boundary of the town. With the backing of the community and a dedicated professional staff, Lake Cargelligo Central School aims to provide an innovative and challenging teaching and learning environment for all students. It fosters a culture of mutual respect within a supportive, safe, and caring environment that enables each student to reach their full potential. The school is located in central west NSW.

The Story of CNS at Lake Cargelligo

Lake Cargelligo joined the Culturally Nourishing Schooling project in 2021, starting with four teachers and three Aboriginal staff involved in professional learning. Over the following four years, 18 staff members participated in the CNS professional learning program. By the end of 2024, 35% of the current teaching staff will have engaged in CNS and incorporated culturally responsive teaching practices into their classrooms. The school has prioritised providing time for whole-staff professional learning days on Country, led by their cultural mentors, ensuring that all teachers have the experience and opportunity to connect with their local Aboriginal community. Cultural mentoring was shared over the four years, with teachers learning from the three Cultural Mentors and local community members.

A key impact of the project was the collaborative partnership between the principal and the Aboriginal Education Officer, which has transformed operations at the school. After participating in the CNS professional learning in 2021, the school principal witnessed the value of the program and has become a strong advocate for CNS. Through this partnership, there has been a significant effect on how professional learning via CNS is conducted and how the school incorporates and promotes culturally nourishing practices. One notable change involved moving all staff development days to days spent on Country, which positively influenced building connections with the Community throughout the year and facilitating the establishment of cultural programs at the school.

The Aboriginal Education Officer spoke to CNS investigators about the impact that spending time on Country had on the teaching staff participating in the CNS program at Lake Cargelligo, highlighting its significance for their overall understanding of the need for genuine cultural inclusion in their teaching materials –

When you go out on Country with the teachers, it has a calming effect on them, and they don’t truly grasp it until they’re out there. After experiencing Country, it's a completely different feeling. Once the staff sees where we’ve come from, they’re eager to learn; they ask questions and come to us for advice. Before, I don’t think they felt compelled to do so.

AEO Aunty Josie with Primary School Students on a Cultural Excursion

Lake Cargelligo exemplifies the vital relationship between school leaders and Community Cultural Leaders in developing, shaping, and maintaining authentic local knowledge that underpins the CNS program in their area. This positive approach to Indigenous education has significantly impacted cultural programs now available to all students across various year levels.

These programs include the establishment of the Clontarf Program for high school boys in 2022. Then in 2023, key Aboriginal leaders and the school’s principal, developed the Yinaagang Program to address the cultural and engagement needs of high school girls. In 2024, this program received the ‘Best First Nations Education Program’ award at the Australian Education Awards. The school is currently seeking funding to create a space for this program, similar to the purpose-built area provided for the Clontarf Program.

Celebrating NAIDOC WEEK with Luke Wighton workshops

This has had an amazing effect on the attendance of the school’s Aboriginal students, with the principal commenting during the program that there was about a 45% uplift in attendance over time. While the change was slow at first, she noted that it reminded her of the critical roles that respect and relationship building played in achieving that shift.

Everyone playing their part – the staff, the students, the families and wider than that. It’s been something that’s happened so gradually that it started to come and settle and the attendance just came from those relationships and the trust that was built over time.

Eliza Cooper, Principal

Lake Cargelligo Central School has expressed interest in continuing its collaboration with CNS into phase 2 of the program, and we’re eager to further build on the progress and achievements that the School and Community have accomplished together.

Smoking Ceremony at Lake Cargellico Central School with Luke Wighton