POSITION STATEMENT
To Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Ngroo Education Incorporated understands the truthful history of this country and the genocidal actions of many of those before us from the earliest steps taken on your land by European people. We understand that this history has caused unimaginable grief and ongoing pain to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
for loss of country, family, language and culture. We understand your continued suffering with declining health, increased incarceration, increased child removals, dislocation in education and generally poorer life outcomes than other Australians. We understand and acknowledge your continuing frustration with policy expectations that over many years have not delivered sustainable social change. To address this apology, we will find ways to move forward together:
We will acknowledge and keep all these disturbing facts in our minds. Avoid using top down approach in deciding what is best to fix this situation
Consult by listening to you, talking with you and then walking together to improve outcomes in education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Acknowledge that Elders and the community best know what will work to deliver positive outcomes, with our role being to assist the process by informing and collaborating with teachers, early childhood education and care services, health service providers and others in the broader community. We promise to walk together with you as you determine the path. OUR HISTORY
Ngroo acknowledges Aboriginal people as the First Peoples and thanks Elders and communities for sharing their land. Budyari yanna muru - go on a good walk path.
Ngroo Education Incorporated began in 2008 with a conversation between a non-Aboriginal teacher, a young Aboriginal mother and an Aboriginal Elder who wondered why there were very few Aboriginal children in the preschool in Western Sydney when there was a large surrounding population of Aboriginal families. This began a long journey of the development of the Walking Together program that continues today with results that have improved the engagement of Aboriginal children in early childhood education across NSW by 50% in those participating services.
