Aboriginal Education

Kaya!

John Tonkin College acknowledges the Bindjareb Noongar people as the traditional custodians of the land in which we work and we pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.

John Tonkin College (JTC) has a dynamic Aboriginal Education Team. Andrea Tacko manages Aboriginal Education with Denysha Marshall, Clinton Jetta and Sam Stack working part time as the school’s Aboriginal & Islander Education Officers (AIEOs).

A focus of the team includes facilitating successful transition into JTC, academic support including through the Follow the Dream program, mentoring with a cultural aspect, mental health & wellbeing and support for senior school students including ASBTs, post-secondary pathway planning and provision of external agency support.

The Waalitj Foundation’s Deadly Sista Girlz program (DSG) is a valuable program offered at JTC, delivered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mentors to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls in years from 7–12. The mentors aim to empower and enable girls to make informed decisions about their personal health and wellbeing to lead a positive and healthy lifestyle. A goal is to give these girls more opportunity to expand their thinking and become active members and leaders in their community and create a brighter future for themselves, their families and generations to come.

I love working at JTC because I find it’s a comfortable environment for me to be able to do my job in helping Aboriginal students to achieve their best throughout their schooling life. During my time at JTC I have felt comfortable in approaching other staff members if I’m unaware of how to do something or am needing help. I believe the team environment has made me feel confident in doing the best I can in a new job role.

Denysha Marshall: Aboriginal & Islander Education Officer