Aboriginal Education

Acknowledgement of Country

Developed in 2019 by Aboriginal students and School Captains of Camden High School,

with guidance from Aunty Carol Brown

We are proud to acknowledge the Dharawal people who cared for and nurtured the land that Camden High School stands upon today.

We say thanks to those who respect and celebrate our culture, our land, our storytelling and encourage you to share in our incredible culture. We hope all students, from all places, from all backgrounds, with all dreams can work together and embrace opportunities to learn and grow at Camden High School, because together we achieve.

As we share our own knowledge, teaching and learning within this school, we also pay respect to the knowledge and storytelling of Aboriginal Elders past, present and emerging as they continue to share their knowledge and wisdom with future generations.

Camden High School is on Dharawal land. The Camden area has a long history of Aboriginal occupation and is located at the intersection of three tribal boundaries; the Gundungurra, Tharawal or Dharawal.

The Dharawal people of the area, occupied the land where ‘the rivers run the wrong way'; the Nepean, Wollondilly, Georges, Cataract and Nattai catchments. The Camden Dharawal were known as ‘Sweet Water People', and were provided with a plentiful supply of food and water from the Nepean River.

The Dharawal called the area around the Nepean River Yandel'ora, which means land of peace between peoples. Yandel'ora became an important Aboriginal meeting place and with each generation, nations from as far north as Maroochydore to as far south as Melbourne, met to make laws, settle disputes and arrange marriages.

Aboriginal students at Camden High School are given many opportunities that support their day to day learning at school and also foster a connection to culture through a variety of experiences.

Some of our latest experiences have been:

Supporting academic success through our ATSI Study Sessions, working with the NRL School to Work Program and attending Western University’s Pathways to Dreaming workshops

Promoting cultural leadership with the Sharing Our Culture Group – Planning and implementing projects across the school including NAIDOC Celebrations and the schools Yarning Circle and Bush Tucker Garden

Working with Elders to build strong cultural and community connections