Diocese of Parramatta
The Diocese of Parramatta is located in one of the fastest growing areas of new South Wales. The Diocese is west of Sydney and reaches from Dundas Valley, west to Katoomba, south to Luddenham, and north to Richmond.
There are 87 Catholic Systemic Schools and six congregational Schools in the Diocese. There are 60 Primary and 27 Secondary Schools with an Aboriginal student population of 600 students.
The Diocese of Parramatta has some of the oldest schools in Australia. St Patrick’s at Parramatta and Parramatta Marist College both have links to the very first Catholic school in the colony, established by Fr John Terry in Hunter Street in 1820. St Matthew’s at Windsor, established in 1835, still serves its community. It is the oldest existing Catholic school in Australia.
The Darug Nation
The Darug Nation has a long history of Aboriginal occupation. The groups were drawn to the region as a result of the proximity of the Nepean River and its plentiful supply of food and water. Approximately there are 32 Clans within the Darug Nation.
The Darug name is used by Aboriginal people for those living along the Hawkesbury River in the north, west into the mountains, south to the Cox’s River, and east onto the Cumberland Plains. They were bounded to the west by the Wiradjuri, to the mountainous south-west by the Gundungurra, to the south-east by the Dharawal and to the east and north-east by the Cadi and Kurangaii. Although the majority of subclans throughout the Cumberland Plain were of the Darug and they spoke the Darug language, the Dharawal, who inhabited the Mount Annan region, spoke a distinct language (Dharawal or Tharawal), of which two distinct dialects have been recorded.
Jarara Indigenous Catholic Education Unit
Jarara Indigenous Catholic Education Unit is an integral part of the system of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Parramatta. We believe that all cultural differences are to be valued and are rich resource to learn from. An appreciation of these differences is fundamental to building relationships. We believe that a high self esteem and sense of identity are vital for the effective learning and personal growth of Aboriginal students.
Therefore we aim to:
Our program aims to contribute a variety of learning experiences that will build confidence in students as Aboriginal people with the skills and knowledge to participate fully on building a better Australian society. There will be a special emphasis on developing an awareness of the contribution that traditional Aboriginal spirituality can make to develop meaning and purpose in their lives.
There are 87 Catholic Systemic Schools and six congregational Schools in the Diocese. There are 60 Primary and 27 Secondary Schools with an Aboriginal student population of 600 students.
The Diocese of Parramatta has some of the oldest schools in Australia. St Patrick’s at Parramatta and Parramatta Marist College both have links to the very first Catholic school in the colony, established by Fr John Terry in Hunter Street in 1820. St Matthew’s at Windsor, established in 1835, still serves its community. It is the oldest existing Catholic school in Australia.
The Darug Nation
The Darug Nation has a long history of Aboriginal occupation. The groups were drawn to the region as a result of the proximity of the Nepean River and its plentiful supply of food and water. Approximately there are 32 Clans within the Darug Nation.
The Darug name is used by Aboriginal people for those living along the Hawkesbury River in the north, west into the mountains, south to the Cox’s River, and east onto the Cumberland Plains. They were bounded to the west by the Wiradjuri, to the mountainous south-west by the Gundungurra, to the south-east by the Dharawal and to the east and north-east by the Cadi and Kurangaii. Although the majority of subclans throughout the Cumberland Plain were of the Darug and they spoke the Darug language, the Dharawal, who inhabited the Mount Annan region, spoke a distinct language (Dharawal or Tharawal), of which two distinct dialects have been recorded.
Jarara Indigenous Catholic Education Unit
Jarara Indigenous Catholic Education Unit is an integral part of the system of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Parramatta. We believe that all cultural differences are to be valued and are rich resource to learn from. An appreciation of these differences is fundamental to building relationships. We believe that a high self esteem and sense of identity are vital for the effective learning and personal growth of Aboriginal students.
Therefore we aim to:
- Provide, in partnership with schools, learning experiences which help students and teachers understand each others’ cultures;
- Promote co-operative learning and build a welcoming community which is open and honest;
- Create a sense of community through shared celebrations of significant events: Spiritual, Cultural and personal;
- Build a supportive environment that encourages children to take risks and be proud of their cultural heritage
Our program aims to contribute a variety of learning experiences that will build confidence in students as Aboriginal people with the skills and knowledge to participate fully on building a better Australian society. There will be a special emphasis on developing an awareness of the contribution that traditional Aboriginal spirituality can make to develop meaning and purpose in their lives.
Diocesan Aboriginal Education AdvisorCatholic Education Office
12 Victoria Road North Parramatta NSW 1750 Diocesan website Contact: Margaret Harrison Phone: [02] 9677 4302 |