Gondwana Link Ltd understands the importance of building cultural and environmental connections at school. Some of the schools and staff in the Gondwana Link conservation area in south-west Western Australia, had little to no exposure to Aboriginal Australian culture, and therefore teaching lessons with an Aboriginal perspective was very difficult for them.

The FRRR ANZ Seeds of Renewal grant program supported the Nowanup ‘Bush University’ Schools Program with a $12,500 grant. The funds allowed them to engage Noongar Elder Eugene Eades, and an education consultant to develop and trial the implementation of a professional development opportunity for teachers and support staff from local primary schools.

The intention was to enable educators from the surrounding regions to better appreciate local Noongar cultural and heritage values, and to deepen their understanding of Noongar perspectives on management of the land, or Boodja. In addition, schools were asked to commit to making their policies and procedures more responsive to Noongar cultural frameworks, presenting content in the Australian Curriculum in a manner sensitive to a local Noongar context.

Amanda Keesing from Gondwana Link explains that the funding supported the design, implementation and review of two camps.

“The feedback was extremely positive and will also contribute to planning for the next series of professional development camps. We now have a viable model for future camps.”

Geelong Grammar School’s Institute of Positive Education Project aims to share the methodology of Positive Education throughout Australia and to encourage adults to embed positive psychology tools fostering improved mental health and wellbeing in their teaching, mentoring and rearing of children.

With an emphasis on improving the wellbeing of those living in rural and regional areas, the Institute offers Positive Education training and collaborates on Positive Education research projects. But this isn’t cheap. To raise the funds needed, they are working in partnership with FRRR, through a fundraising account.

“The FRRR scheme has provided the Institute of Positive Education with invaluable assistance towards the development and implementation of several programs and services for regional schools and communities. These include supporting curriculum writing, various wellbeing research measurements, and support for specialised training,” said Wes Smith, Business Manager for the Institute of Positive Education.

“We are enormously grateful to be involved, and to be a recipient of this vital funding initiative.”

The fundraising account will additionally work to support research and evaluation that build scientific evidence for the efficacy of Positive Education.