At South Regional TAFE, an exciting initiative is underway that blends art, culture, and education in a meaningful way. The Cultural Spaces project, which is being delivered through the Career Taster Program, is designed to engage students with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through hands-on experiences, while also promoting reconciliation and cross-cultural understanding. This initiative involves two main areas of focus: Visual Arts – Ngala Maya and the Yarning Circle, Bush Tucker Gardens, and Statues.
AREA 1 – Visual Arts – Ngala Maya
The Visual Arts – Ngala Maya project is a creative collaboration that provides students with an opportunity to work closely with Aboriginal artists to create murals reflecting Aboriginal culture and stories.
Weekly Project – 1 Day per Week Until Completion
With a maximum of 10 students per week, this project is structured in three stages:
- Stage 1: Consultation Stage
Students will collaborate with artists to determine themes for the murals. This involves research and discussion about the cultural significance of the artwork, drawing inspiration from local Aboriginal traditions, stories, and the environment. - Stage 2: Learning the Techniques
In this stage, students will learn the essential painting techniques required to execute the mural. Artists will guide students through various methods, such as traditional painting techniques, to ensure the murals are rich with cultural significance. - Stage 3: Creating the Murals
With guidance from the artists, students will paint murals on the front and wall facing the oval. This is where the artistic visions come to life, creating lasting symbols of Aboriginal culture on campus.
AREA 2 – Yarning Circle, Bush Tucker Gardens, and Statues
The Yarning Circle, Bush Tucker Gardens, and Statues area is a transformative space for both cultural learning and environmental sustainability. The project invites students to engage with cultural experts and specialists to create a space that promotes Aboriginal culture and knowledge, with an emphasis on native plants, bush tucker, and Aboriginal storytelling traditions.
Weekly Project – 1 Day per Week Until Completion
This area accommodates a maximum of 12 students per week to ensure safety and proper guidance. The project unfolds in three stages:
- Stage 1: Consultation Stage
Students will engage with cultural experts to explore the concepts of the Yarning Circle, learn about bush tucker plants, and determine themes for the statues. The consultation phase will focus on appropriate plants, the significance of the Yarning Circle, and which statues might best represent the area's cultural context. - Stage 2: Project Planning and Preparation
In this stage, students will work with experts to plan out the area, including the installation of safety fencing, garden preparation, pruning, mulching, and clearing of existing paving. Some areas may be re-paved, while others will focus on planting native bush tucker species and creating spaces for the Yarning Circle and statues. - Stage 3: Implementation and Creation
Finally, students will work alongside specialists to complete the project. This includes installing the Yarning Circle seating, erecting statues, and planting the gardens. The project will culminate in the creation of a culturally rich space that serves as both an educational tool and a place of reflection and connection to the land.
Alignment to the Reconciliation Action Plan
The Cultural Spaces project is aligned with South Regional TAFE’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which seeks to foster stronger relationships and opportunities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the broader community. This initiative aligns with several RAP deliverables, including:
- Engaging with Local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Stakeholders
By collaborating with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations and experts, South Regional TAFE is building meaningful relationships that promote cultural understanding and mutual respect. - Promoting Aboriginal Education and Employment Pathways
Working with local schools, organizations, and Jobs and Skills Centres, the project helps create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to engage in education and employment pathways. - Creating Culturally Inviting Spaces
The Cultural Spaces project fosters a learning environment that is both culturally appropriate and inviting to Aboriginal students, ensuring that Aboriginal services are highlighted across all learning areas. - Incorporating Aboriginal Culture in Campus Design
In consultation with Elders and cultural advisors, the project aims to establish a place of contemplation and learning about Aboriginal culture on campus, including incorporating Aboriginal language signs for native plants and expanding cultural education through campus-based days. - Building Partnerships with Aboriginal Businesses
South Regional TAFE is working to establish commercial relationships with Aboriginal businesses, expanding training opportunities and supporting local Aboriginal economic growth.
Community Involvement
The success of the Cultural Spaces project relies on the active participation of many local Aboriginal cultural experts, organisations, and businesses. These include:
- South Regional TAFE Aboriginal Advisory Committee
- Roelands Village – Les Wallam and Rhona Wallam (Bush Tucker and Aboriginal Artist)
- Summer Bunnell-Brinkworth – Myrtle Creative, Aboriginal Artist
- Bill & Nez Bunnell – Aboriginal Lands Services
- Ngaland Wongi Aboriginal Cultural Tours – Troy Bunnell
- Bill Williams and Wendy Nilsson – Aboriginal Tutors
- Bunnings Bunbury – Donating garden tools and gloves for students
By working together with these partners, South Regional TAFE is creating a space that not only celebrates Aboriginal culture but also encourages learning, community engagement, and reconciliation.
The Cultural Spaces project at South Regional TAFE represents a significant step towards reconciliation, cultural education, and community involvement. Through art, gardens, and collaboration with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experts, students gain invaluable insights into cultural traditions while contributing to the creation of meaningful, culturally significant spaces on campus.