Community Update

Community Update

With the introduction of our Year 9 Experiential Program in 2025 and our Midawarr Program (through Culture College) moving to Year 10 from 2025, a reminder that an exclusive opportunity exists for our parent and alumni community to experience this unique and extraordinary program through a Redlands Midawarr Arnhem Land Trip in May this year.

Our partnership with Culture College inspires and educates through the sharing of unique experiences and the celebration of traditional Yolŋu knowledge systems and customs, all in an authentic Yolŋu setting in northeast Arnhem Land. First Nations educators from along the East Coast also teach the diversity of their cultures and customs alongside Yolŋu, threading the stories together.

This is quite literally a once in a lifetime opportunity to deeply explore miny’tji (art), manikay (song), bunggul (dance) and story-telling at Gulkula, the site of the annual Garma Festival. The trip is planned for Sunday 26 to Thursday 30 May 2024 and includes:

  • Camping accommodation, tents with single camp stretcher (1 or 2 per tent)
  • Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner
  • Morning and afternoon tea breaks (light snacks)
  • Transport in Nhulunbuy and surrounding areas
  • ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony
  • Visit to Buku – Yirrkala Arts Centre and Museum
  • Sharing of knowledge with local Yolŋu educators
  • Proceeds will contribute to a job pathways program to help provide training, further education and job opportunities to Yolŋu educators within the program
  • Round-trip economy airfare from Sydney to Cairns return on Virgin Australia
  • Round-trip economy airfare from Cairns to Gove return on Air North
  • Airport transfers to and from Gove airport and Gulkula

We are delighted to announce that our Principal, Mr Sean Corcoran will be joining our parents and alumni on this trip, sharing this unique experience with our community. Gather a group of friends, a friend or join the wider group for this once in a lifetime experience not to be missed. Places on this exclusive trip can now be reserved by competing a booking form which can be accessed here.

We look forward to welcoming parents and carers tomorrow evening at our annual our Twilight event.  With the weather looking wet tomorrow evening we have relocated the event indoors to Dunnet Hall on our Junior Campus. Our Twilight event provides a wonderful opportunity for our new families to connect with our school community and tickets are still available here. For information on upcoming (and past) event and group activities please visit the RPFA section of Note Day.  

Our new Redlands Child Safeguarding Policy, which replaces our previous Child Protection Policy was released this week. The development of this policy follows the release of the Redlands Statement of Commitment to Child Safeguarding last year, that highlights our commitment to act in the best interests of students and promote their wellbeing and to provide safe and inclusive environments where our students feel they belong, are supported and can thrive. You can view our new Child Safeguarding Policy here.

I remain grateful for the continued guidance and support our community provides and, as ever, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly or the wider Community Engagement team should you have any feedback, suggestions or questions.

Mr Grant Birse
Head of Community Engagement
9908 6406
gbirse@redlands.nsw.edu.au