Leading from the Edge Aboriginal Educational Leaders Tell Their Story

Leading from the Edge Aboriginal Educational Leaders Tell Their Story This project was funded by The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) as a quality teacher initiative under the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme. Leading from the Edge The development of this publication was managed by Virginia Gill, Leadership Consultant, South Australian Centre for Leaders in Education, Department of Aboriginal Educational Leaders Tell Their Story Education and Children’s Services, South Australia. The views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme, The Department of Education and Children’s Services or the South Australian Centre for Leaders in Education. Editing by Virginia Gill Layout and design by Buddle Design ISBN 978 0 9805861 0 7 © Commonwealth of Australia (2008) This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, Attorney General’s Department, Robert Garran Offices, National Circuit, Barton ACT 2600 or posted at http://www.ag.gov.au/cca. This publication was supported by a grant from the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training. Every effort has been made to contact the copyright holders of material used in this publication. If accidental infringement has occurred, please contact the publisher. For further information on Leading from the Edge contact South Australian Centre for Leaders in Education Ground Level Education Development Centre Milner Street, Hindmarsh South Australia 5007 Telephone +61 8 8463 5840 Facsimile +61 8 8463 5849 www.sacle.edu.au South Australian Centre for Leaders in Education Contents Acknowledgements . i Foreword. iii Introduction. v The Stories Geraldine Atkinson Education — A Life’s Work . .2 Paul Bridge The Relationship is the Key . 10 Tim Goodwin Sharing the Dream . 14 Emma Hay Living the Change . .22 Gavin Khan Belief in the Magic . .28 Kevin Lowe Walking the Talk . 35 Janet Mooney The Artist Within . .47 Frank Pearce Whatever it Takes . 52 Dr Alice (Alitya) Rigney Fulfilling the Dream . .68 Bruce Roper Setting the Bar for the Next Wave . .85 Edie Wright A Fire in the Belly . .93 Acknowledgements First and foremost I must thank the people who so kindly agreed to share their stories for this publication. Their willingness to speak so openly and personally about their experiences to a complete stranger was both inspiring and humbling, as were the stories themselves. Thank you to the staff at Principals Australia, (formerly known as the Australian Principals Association Professional Development Council, or APAPDC), and in particular Jeremy Hurley, Kate Castine and the Dare to Lead team. This publication had its origin as an online resource for Principals Australia entitled ‘L5 at Work, Leadership Learning Online’ and is part of a module on ‘Leading Schools in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education’. The resource can be accessed on the website: www.leaderslead.edu.au and also on the South Australian Centre for Leaders in Education (SACLE) website: www.sacle.edu.au Thank you to the staff at SACLE who so patiently and graciously assisted with transcription, editing and administration. Last but by no means least, thank you to the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme (AGQTP) for providing the funds to prepare and publish this book. Virginia Gill i Foreword Education is the greatest tool that any person could have to determine their Dream for a future that gives them the best out of life! The other tool which is crucial is one’s own Culture! This enables the strength from within to bring with it all which is beautiful, through the guidance of all those wonderful role models who have helped guide and shape our world. Here then lies the last tool that an outstanding experience of an ultimate role modelling, love and guidance can give to one, which forms a pathway to leadership culminating in achievement. It is from here that Dreams are made! Education and Culture! Not having these advantages can limit one’s world considerably, but combining these tools can ensure Dreams become a reality! Can you be challenged?? Dr Alice (Alitya) Rigney iii Introduction Australia needs leaders. Our country needs skilled, strong and ethical people to embrace the mantle of leadership in all walks of life as we face the challenges of this new century. The nation’s children and youth need positive role models — people who are willing to take up challenges, stir the pot and make a difference to the lives of their generation and the generations to follow. Arguably, education is Australia’s number one priority. Our schools need leaders who are absolutely committed to ensuring that their students achieve their full potential. Leaders must insist upon standards of excellence from their teachers and provide them with the resources and the professional development to fulfil the obligations of their role. Indeed, our school leaders have a moral as well as a professional obligation, a ‘noblesse oblige’ that goes beyond simply running a school. Leaders inspire. Leaders dare. Leaders lead by example. There is no doubt that Australia has many outstanding school leaders, and this is not limited to just principals or ‘heads’. Some of the very best leaders are those who set an example to other teachers through their work in the classroom. They share their expertise and support other staff and trainee teachers by providing leadership in curriculum development, sound v Introduction Introduction pedagogy and explicit and robust assessment and reporting procedures. bureaucracies dominated by an Anglo perspective. They are undoubtedly There are other leaders in a range of positions within our schools, tertiary role models to their Aboriginal families and communities, and of equal institutions and kindergartens who are passionate about education, and significance is their positive influence on non-Aboriginal children and totally committed to the needs of the young people with whom they young people. work. These eleven people are leaders who are prepared to speak out and To be entrusted with the education of a child is an honour and to lead perhaps most importantly, they promote education as a fulfilling career a school is a privilege. More than ever before, our nation must support path and a true ‘calling’ for those who believe in making a difference. its teachers and leaders, for without their commitment and skills, our They have demonstrated a determination of spirit and culture that sets an children’s future and indeed the future of our country is in crisis. We need example for others, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal. to promote education and teaching as a wonderful profession and we need They are leaders who truly know the importance of education. to encourage and support our emerging school leaders in all jurisdictions What could be more important? and across the public and private sector. This book is a celebration of eleven individuals who have met and Virginia Gill, Leadership Consultant mastered significant challenges to become excellent leaders in their field. South Australian Centre for Leaders in Education They have many differences, but two things bind them as a group. Firstly, Department of Education and Children’s Services, South Australia they are all Aboriginal. Secondly, they all have a fundamental belief in the vital role that education plays in long term career and life outcomes for young people. They have some fascinating and inspiring stories to tell, from the perspective of being a student, teacher, leader or all three. Some of their stories are also about racism, adversity, tragedy and triumph. The telling of these stories evolved from conversations, from yarns. Hence editing has been kept to a minimum to maintain the integrity and the spirit of the conversations. The stories contained herein are the true stories of some exceptional people whose courage and determination have seen them realise their passion for education and leadership. They have successfully honoured and maintained their cultural heritage while working within large vi vii The Stories Leading from the Edge: aboriginal educational leaders tell their story Geraldine Atkinson Education — A Life’s Work Geraldine Atkinson Geraldine is the national I was born in Leeton in 1952. I’m one of a family of 14 children and A recognised leader in Koori Indigenous Education Consultative we lived in New South Wales. My mother was born on Cumeragunja education, Geraldine Atkinson Body (IECB) representative to the Mission; my father was born on Warangesda Mission, which is in New became President of the Victorian Ministerial Council on Education, South Wales. They’re both in New South Wales but Cumeragunja is on Aboriginal Education Association Employment, Training and Youth the border, closer to Victoria. My father was killed when I was five years Inc. (VAEAI) in 1999, and has Affairs (MCEETYA). old; he was murdered and thrown in a channel. He’d been missing and been re-elected every year since. As my mother didn’t know where he was, until eventually he was identified President of VAEAI Geraldine has by police forensics. I remember vividly that time. I remember, everybody been able to contribute her expertise crying and elder sisters fainting, and I remember just crying and crying to key policies and strategies that and crying. have shaped Koorie education. After that, we were fringe dwellers living in shanties on the outskirts Geraldine Atkinson has been of Leeton, and it was the period when children were being taken in instrumental in negotiating and the 1950s; being taken and put in homes.

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