Aboriginal Education

Loxton Primary School Acknowledgement of Country

Strengthening Connections with Aboriginal Culture

Loxton Primary School is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for Aboriginal students. We aim to enhance cultural understanding across our school, support academic achievement, and strengthen community connections.

Loxton Primary School integrates Aboriginal perspectives across the curriculum throughout each year. This includes celebrating significant events such as NAIDOC Week and Reconciliation Week, where students participate in activities that highlight Aboriginal history, culture, and achievements. Each term, Aboriginal students are invited to attend a Cultural Connect Day. These days give students the opportunity to socialise with other Aboriginal learners from partnership schools while also connecting to culture through learning and experiences. At LPS, some local Ngarrindjeri language is used in classrooms. This enables students to enrich their morning Welcome Circles and end of day dismissals, fostering cultural appreciation and linguistic diversity.

The process of personalising an Acknowledgement of Country for Loxton Primary School was a collaborative effort involving leadership, the Aboriginal Education Teacher (AET), the Aboriginal Community Education Officer (ACEO), students, and staff. This revised acknowledgement honours the Erawirung people as the first peoples of the land on which the school resides. It is specifically tailored to Loxton Primary School, ensuring relevance and significance. Students proudly read this Acknowledgement of Country at school events and assemblies, reinforcing respect and recognition of the traditional custodians of the land and fostering a deeper connection to the local Aboriginal community.

Loxton Primary School proudly features a Bush Tucker Garden, where each plant serves a vital purpose, either as a food source or for medicinal use. This garden is an educational resource, with signage and QR codes providing detailed information about each plant's traditional uses by Aboriginal people. Through integrating cultural knowledge into the curriculum, all students learn about the significance of these plants. Students actively engage with the garden by using the plants in cooking activities in the school's kitchen, fostering a hands-on learning experience that deepens their understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal culture and sustainable practices.

Another project at Loxton Primary School is the creation of a rock wall. This initiative has involved all staff and students, who have each painted a river rock with Aboriginal symbols, the School's Values, or their own personal symbols. These painted rocks will be carefully arranged and glued onto the front wall of the Bush Tucker Garden, artistically mimicking the shape of the Murray River. This project not only enhances the visual appeal of the garden but also symbolises the unity and diversity of our school community.

Loxton Primary School proudly won ‘Best School Float’ at the annual Loxton Mardi Gras in 2025, with a theme inspired by the Dreaming story of Ngurunderi. The story was integrated into classroom learning, and each student creatively decorated their own Pondi (Murray Cod) to decorate the float.

Staff at Loxton Primary School participate in professional development sessions focused on cultural competency and inclusive teaching practices. This ongoing training ensures that educators are equipped to support Aboriginal students effectively and respectfully, and continue to build our cultural awareness.

Aboriginal Education Team

Kate Schulz - Aboriginal Education Teacher

Taelah Watkins - Aboriginal Education Community Officer (ACEO)