The Reconciliation Action Plan for Footscray Primary School was reviewed by Reconciliation Australia in September 2023. 

VISION FOR RECONCILIATION

Footscray Primary School acknowledges the rich and diverse cultures and histories of First Nations peoples.  We aim to embed this respect, as a whole community, through actions such as, co creating Acknowledgements of Country with our students each year and committing to starting each day, meeting and school events with acknowledgements from the heart. We are committed to embedding First Nations’ perspectives in all our units of inquiry across all year levels and curriculums to promote rich ongoing learning. As a bilingual school, we are committed to building consistent practices in both languages.

At Footscray Primary School, staff are encouraged to openly model willingness to unlearn and confront biases and support the need for truth telling.  We aim to engage with resources, services and connections that honour and amplify First Nations voices. We hope that this ongoing learning will empower staff and students to think deeply about our shared histories and futures and become confident change makers. We are committed to creating a culturally safe place for all people to connect, grow, learn and play.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

At the beginning of each year, classes engage in a mini-inquiry that leads to the co-creation of a meaningful Acknowledgement of Country in both English and Italian. Each school day commences with students reading the Acknowledgement, reminding us daily that we are living, learning and playing on Aboriginal land. 

Footscray Primary School acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which we live, work and learn, the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin Nations. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, recognising their continuing cultural connections to their land, waters and communities.