Our Story

Gawura was established in 2007 by St Andrew’s Cathedral School in response to systemic underachievement and the clear disparity in educational outcomes of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Why is Gawura special?

• Our students commence in Kindergarten – a critical, foundational year, and we keep classes small so we can care for students holistically.
• Students learn about, and share each others culture which builds self-esteem, confidence and resilience in each child.
• We work in partnership with community & our parents have a voice.
• Gawura offers a dedicated bus service resulting in high attendance rates of 92-94%.
• Gawura teaches a focused, dedicated literacy and numeracy programme in a culturally enriching environment.
• Gawura is located near a large Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community (our bus collects children from areas including Redfern, Glebe and Waterloo).

Our focus:

• We teach a culturally relevant curriculum.
• Wiradjuri language is taught at Gawura and in the St Andrew’s Cathedral School Junior School.
• Indigenous perspectives are taught in the classroom – connecting mainstream curriculum to Aboriginal history. Parents & Elders teach arts, crafts & culture.
• We teach in partnership with families and communities and empower parents to become part of their child’s education.
• Special events are celebrated throughout the year for example Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week.
• We provide pastoral care and mentoring for students and families.
• There are pathways and milestone support throughout and beyond school to universities & TAFE.
• We run the Gawura Volunteer Morning Reading Program each day with approximately 10 volunteers reading with K-4 students for 30 minutes.

Our Staff:

• There are now 10 Indigenous staff in Gawura.
• Two K-2 teachers aides (part-time).
• A full time Years 7-12 secondary mentor.
• Community liaison coordinator (part-time).
• A Wiradjuri language teacher who teaches in both Gawura and the Junior School of St Andrew’s Cathedral School.

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About Gawura

Gawura is a unique, coeducational Kindergarten to Year 6 day school for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who live at home with their families. Engagement of the Gawura families, parents and carers is critical to the success of the program. With up to 28 students, Gawura is a highly-acclaimed, highly-regarded ‘lighthouse’ model for Indigenous education, offering students a supportive, nurturing space where they feel secure and learn at their own skill level, participating in individual numeracy and literacy programs. They achieve academic milestones daily and grow in their abilities in academic subjects, sport and the arts.

The school program is funded primarily by individual and family donors, corporates and foundations.

Our teacher to students ratios allows us to specifically address the individual academic and well-being needs of the students.

• There are now 10 Indigenous staff in Gawura.
• Two K-2 teachers aides (part-time).
• A full time Years 7-12 secondary mentor.
• Community liaison coordinator (part-time).
• A Wiradjuri language teacher who teaches in both Gawura and the Junior School of St Andrew’s Cathedral School.