Oak Flats High School

Your place to learn and grow

Oak Flats High School is located on the land of the Wodi Wodi people of the Dharawal Nation, along the shoreline of Lake Illawarra on the South Coast of New South Wales. The school is a diverse learning community, with 14% of students identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and 10% having a language background other than English, representing 18 different languages. This diversity contributes to a rich learning environment where students can develop empathy and understanding for all people. The school's commitment to celebrating this diversity ensures that every student is known, valued, and cared for. Within the school and the local community, the Aboriginal Education Officer (AEO) runs and supports numerous cultural programs, including Sista Speak, Bro Speak, camps, and a supportive transition program for Aboriginal students starting in grade 4. 
 

The Story of CNS at Oak Flats High School

From 2021 to 2023, Oak Flats High School participated in the CNS program, with 27 teachers engaged in professional learning throughout that period. There was significant staff buy-in to the program, which was actively championed by the school's senior executive team, particularly the principal and deputy principal. The executive team collaborated closely with Aboriginal education staff, strengthening relationships among school staff, students, and the local Aboriginal community. This commitment helped create a more inclusive and culturally responsive environment, facilitating the effective implementation of the CNS program. 


The school has been able to attract a variety of Department of Education-endorsed programs and resources aimed at supporting student learning. However, these initiatives placed considerable strain on time and staff resources. By late 2023, the school determined it could no longer sustain the extensive number of programs it had been running. Despite withdrawing from the CNS program after three years, Oak Flats High School maintained a strong commitment to Aboriginal education, resulting in notable improvements in student attendance and educational outcomes. 


The following achievement were seen during the schools’ participation with the CNS project. These included:  

  • Higher NAPLAN results, reflecting academic progress 
  • Increased Year 12 completion rates among Aboriginal students 
  • More employment opportunities for students leaving the Higher School Certificate (HSC) 
  • A significant rise in positive feedback from the Tell Them From Me survey. 

The school has maintained a strong and highly productive partnership with local Aboriginal organisations and Elders' groups, facilitating various programs through these connections. Aboriginal Education staff and Cultural Mentors have played a pivotal role in fostering meaningful relationships with students, families, and teaching staff. They have served as key resources, helping to shape programs that align with the CNS program logic and ensuring cultural relevance in the school's approach. In addition to this focus on community connection, school leadership has demonstrated a strong and positive presence throughout the project. This is evident in leadership practices that include Aboriginal parents and community members having a voice in the school's operations, including setting its vision—a matter of great importance to the Principal, Angela Byron. 

 

We want to ensure that all of our staff and every student have that opportunity to engage with our local Aboriginal culture, sitting down and talking to elders and to Aboriginal community members about their thoughts and their values and their culture and learning from them and with them. 

Angela Byron, Principal on building trust between schools and the community

While the school will not continue with the CNS project into 2024, it has maintained strategic planning that includes collaboration with the community on opportunities for cultural nourishment as part of its 2025-2028 strategic plan, demonstrating its dedication to sustaining the CNS framework within the school.