Our school is committed to engaging and walking alongside the Traditional Custodians who share connections and stories to the Country on which our school is built: the Gugingin, Mununjali and Wangerriburra Peoples. Our school is located near ‘South Rock’, a natural sandstone outcrop that holds significant cultural importance to our Traditional Custodians. South Rock State School is committed to the inclusion and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives through the development of our school culture, environment and learning areas of curriculum and pedagogy.
Our Cultural Advisory Group includes Aunty Robyn Williams, Waylene Currie, Brendan Knight, Shaun Davies and Germaine Paulson. We also acknowledge the generous contributions and ongoing connection and guidance from Yugambeh Elder Ted Williams as well as Dr Dee Basaraba and Michaela Williams, Principal Project Officers from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Team (South East Region, Department of Education).
Since our school's inception and prior to our gates opening on 23rd January 2023, it has been South Rock State School's commitment to build an authentic partnership with representatives of the Traditional Custodians. Through local introductions and the generous time and sharing of cultural knowledge, our school's Cultural Advisory Group has been formed. Members of our Cultural Advisory Group work with our school to ensure our strategic direction appropriately aligns and that we create an environment of cultural safety for our students, staff, families and community members.
Our Cultural Advisory Group meets every school term as well as being actively engaged in school incursion and excursions as well as whole-of-school activities and events.
“Ngullingi (Us)” by Waylene Currie
Our school has engaged contemporary Mununjali Wangerriburra Artist Waylene Currie of WRLC Arts to create an artwork that is representative of our school. The Aboriginal Art which is embedded throughout the identity of South Rock State School, “Ngullingi (Us)” has localised traditional stories from the Mununjali, Wangerriburra and Gugingin Peoples connected to the Country on which South Rock State school is built.
When you first step into our school’s reception or see our school flags for example, you will see this beautiful artwork which holds great meaning and inspiration for our school. Click
here to watch a video presentation by Waylene Currie, explaining the significance of this artwork.
Find more information about Waylene and her artistry on Facebook:
WRLC Arts
Welcome to Country Ceremony
On 23rd January 2023, the first day of our Foundation Year, our school had the honour of a Welcome to Country from Yugambeh Elder Ted Williams and Mununjali Ngari, a meaningful start for all of our students, staff, families and community members. We thank our Cultural Advisory Group for their input into our school's incredible start and their continued interest in and support of our school.
South Rock State School is commited to 'Building pride, belonging to our community' so to bring our community partners together for this ceremony was an incredible first step in our school's journey. View parts of this important ceremony
here.
Our School Houses
We thank our Cultural Advisory Group for their valuable input and support of our school’s initiative to embed Yugambeh language throughout our school including our school houses. South Rock State School has four school houses that encapsulate the four elements of 'Jagun’ (Country), ‘Nyunga’ (Sun), ‘Jaran’ (Freshwater) and Gahban (Rainforest).
Contemporary Mununjali Wangerriburra Artist Waylene Currie of WRLC Arts has created artwork representative of each element that encapsulates stories connected to each element. Watch our video
here to learn more about our school houses.
Whole-of-School Activities and Events
South Rock State School is committed to embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives within and throughout our school. With the support and direction of local Traditional Custodians, it is our school’s goal to create contextualised curriculum learning opportunites for our students that focus on local cultural knowledge.
In forming this ongoing genuine connection, it is the hope of our staff and our Cultural Advisory Group from South Rock State School to continue to strengthen a culturally responsive school leadership and our commitment to knowing and valuing local Aboriginal cultures and to engage with parents and carers, families and the Community to embed a defensive inclusive localised First Nations perspective.