St Patrick's College offers Indigenous Students support through our School Based Indigenous Education Liaison Officer. The School Based Liaison Officer is available to support and encourage students and their families within our school community by:

• Providing information and support to students to aid participation in school and community activities that relate to educational issues
• Improving attendance and completion rates of Indigenous school students.
• Ensuring Indigenous students from our cluster schools have a smooth transition from the primary setting into secondary schooling
• Encouraging parents and the community to work with schools to improve educational outcomes for Indigenous students.

The School Based Liaison Officer works to:

• Encourage students to actively engage and participate in all activities within the school community
• Encourage and assist students to continue further study to Year 12 and beyond
• Provide guidance and pastoral care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in co-operation with other support personnel in schools within the region
• Use discretion and judgement in selecting appropriate service providers and community/government organisations to provide positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families
• Liaise between the College, student and parents in relation to planning action and achieving outcomes

Support is available to Parents/ Guardians in relation to their student’s education. Assistance can be provided through:

• Home visits
• Referral to Indigenous service providers
• Parent /Teacher interviews

Support offered by liaising with:

• Community organisations and departments
• Indigenous Education Workers within the region
• College staff about the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families
• Principals, teachers and/or Inclusive Curriculum staff in regards to student learning progress
• College staff on any changes that impact our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

Students are encouraged and provided with   access to educational organisations and community activities such as:

• NAIDOC
• NAIDOC Mass
• School Musical
• Read-a-thon
• Promoting Indigenous events on assembly
• Promote Work Education
• School Based Apprenticeships
• School Based Traineeships
• Indigenous community initiatives

Through the role of Indigenous Education liaison Officer the aim is to:

• Facilitate students’ engagement in worthwhile educational experiences
• Increase the attendance and minimise absentee rates
• Encourage parents/caregivers to actively participate in their child’s schooling
• Support the transition from primary school to St Patrick's College and beyond
• Assist the school with Indigenous perspectives and Cultural protocols

Catholic Education is available to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in our middle secondary education.

The gospel values are the corner stone of our Catholic schooling system.  Jesus Christ’s life was characterised by the values of love, reconciliation, justice and peace.  As followers of Jesus Christ, it is vital that these values are reflected in our attitudes towards our various Cultures.

(Prepared by Aboriginal Australians for the visit of Pope John Paul II to Alice Springs in 1986)

Father of all, You gave us the dreaming.
You have spoken to us through our beliefs.
You then made your love clear to us in the person of Jesus.
We thank You for your care.
You own us.
You are our hope.
Make us strong as we face the problems of change.
We ask You to help the people of Australia to listen to us and respect our Culture.
Make the knowledge of You grow strong in all people.
So that You can be at home in us and we can make a home for everyone in our land.
Amen

St Patrick's College is passionate about helping our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students achieve success in their schooling. As a reflection of this commitment we have developed a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). A RAP is designed to assist us in building positive relationships with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, families and community members whilst fostering an atmosphere of respect and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and Culture. We aim to provide our Students with opportunities to be successful in their schooling whilst maintaining vital links to Culture. Please follow the link to view St Patrick's College's statement of Commitment and Reconciliation Action Plan.