Australia’s Indigenous peoples represent up to 60,000 years of continuous history and culture. Amaroo sits on Jarowair country and we acknowledge the traditional owners and elders of this land. We also pay our respects to the Giabul peoples on whose land many of Amaroo’s programs are delivered.
Connection to country
Amaroo provides a variety of programs sharing these Indigenous knowledges under our ‘Connection to Country’ framework. (See the short ABC Open video below or view it on the ABC Open website.)
In many of our programs we make use of a mural painted by local Aboriginal artist Kim Walmsley showing aspects of Indigenous culture embedded in the environment at Amaroo. We also have a yarning circle featuring sandstone blocks carved with Indigenous and environmental motifs, the work of local stonemason Dan Gill.
From Prep age through to adults, participants in our Indigenous programs at Amaroo experience elements of the oldest living cultures on earth in different settings and with different focuses.
Marvellous Mini Murris
The Marvellous Mini Murris program through bush walks, sense activities, art and craft and story allows students to explore Indigenous culture. The program is specifically aimed at the early childhood years and gives students the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities in a bush setting in a safe and challenging environment.
Murri and Migaloo Magic
In the Murri and Migaloo Magic program students engage in hands-on activities comparing aspects of traditional Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures. Activities include shelter and gunya construction, fire-making, tool fashioning and usage, food preparation and art. Students are also introduced to Indigenous uses of local flora and fauna.
Bonyi Bonyi
Bonyi Bonyi reflects the cultural journey to the Bunya Mountains that Indigenous groups from all over Southeast Queensland and Northern NSW took part in every three years. Students explore Indigenous use of plants for food, medicine, shelters, weapons and tools. At a local botanical park students examine the flora with the aid of digital cameras and participate in some traditional art and craft.
This Land is Me
This Land is Me in partnership with the local Jarowair custodians, provides cultural exploration and a guided tour of Gummingurru. Gummingurru is a sacred cultural site not far from Amaroo containing Bora rings and cultural totems representing Indigenous language groups from all over the Southeast. Archaeologists have dated the site between 3 and 6,000 years old. Part of the day’s experience includes examination and discussion of various Indigenous artefacts and cultural hands-on activities in nearby Peacehaven public park.
Year 10 Geography
Year 10 Geography entails a field trip to Gummingurru and Peacehaven Park designed in partnership with Harristown State High School, in which students collect data to help determine the impact of European colonisation on Indigenous Australians access to land, food and sacred sites. Students also explore the Indigenous ‘Connection to Country’ ethos and how this changed due to colonisation and current government land management and sustainability.