Clarence Landcare Inc

Engaging Gumbaynggirr Youth - South Grafton Dunggirr (Koalas)

Working with local primary schools to engage their Aboriginal students to gain knowledge and understanding about the local koalas.

Engaging Gumbaynggirr Youth - South Grafton Dunggirr (Koalas)

Working with local primary schools to engage their Aboriginal students to gain knowledge and understanding about the local koalas.

Community Participation -

LP-022-030

The issue

Clarence Landcare was contracted to engage Gumbaynggirr youth for future Koala projects in the South Grafton area. The Gillwinga and St Josephs primary schools are across the road from one another and both schools regularly have Koalas on their school grounds and property. The aim was to foster a relationship with the schools and their Aboriginal students for a koala education event. 

The solution

We teamed up with Michael Kennedy, Aboriginal Landcare Officer, and did a site visit to the area in South Grafton where there are a number of Koala records. A meeting with the principal of St Josephs lead to an invitation to use their school property and facilities for an event. The small grant we received from ENVITE (DPE funds) gave us the resources we needed to implement the project. 

The impact

We organised a school event and invited Gillwinga's year 5 & 6 Aboriginal students and St Josephs 9 Aboriginal student across all year levels. In total 31 students and 2 teachers from both school attended. 'The Cultural Program for Gillwinga and St Josephs Schools - Koalas in Clarence Valley' was held on Wednesday 31 May 2023.

We had a welcome to country in Gumbaynggirr Language by Michael Kennedy and three Koala songline stories were told. Debbie Repschlager - Landcare Coordinator did an introduction to Landcare and Junior Landcare.  Senior Project Officer & Ecologist, Annette Cook,  gave a Koala presentation, an afternoon in the field learning about Koala Food trees and how to plant a tree. The hands shot up in the group when asked who wanted to be involved in a Junior Ranger Koala Team. 

Learnings

The inside presentation worked well to give an overview education about koalas. The outside activities after lunch were hands-on and engaging. The students learnt how to use tree features to identify koala food trees and also how to plant a tree. 

Key facts

  • 31 Aboriginal students attended
  • Everyone loved the day
  • Students saw Koala scratchings on the trees
  • 14 students signed up for Gumbaynggirr Junior Ranger Dunggirr Team
  • Koala food trees were planted

Project Partners