Toowoomba Grammar School has added the new role of Indigenous Education Coordinator to the School’s offering, to further promote a culture of diversity, inclusivity, and reconciliation.
Mr Scott Gale has been appointed to this ground-breaking position that aims to spread awareness and understanding of the significance of Australia’s culture and history.
“That’s something that has been lacking in Australia’s education system for so long,” said Scott.
“It’s an extremely significant part of our history and to see this shift and acceptance of our past is a great thing.”
Scott was the Indigenous Education Coordinator at St Joseph’s Nudgee College for the past two years. He supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through the school’s mentor, boarding and pastoral care programs and he was also instrumental in assisting staff deliver planned Indigenous education programs through the academic curriculum.
He’s very excited to have a blank slate to work with at TGS and develop this important new program, but his first priority is to get to know and support our Indigenous students. From there, Scott will develop a Reconciliation Action Plan for the School.
“This will outline significant events that we want to celebrate and when we can engage local elders and community members who can assist with educating our students about our history,” said Scott.
“It is a great way to help grow and develop a community that is connected and engaged with the School and to build positive relationships.”
Scott is a proud Wiradjuri man from inland NSW and is extremely passionate about his heritage.
“It wasn’t until I started high school and became part of their Indigenous Program that I became aware of the significance of my culture,” Scott stated.
“That program was the catalyst for me wanting to learn more and for becoming so proud of my heritage as a teenager. I want to share that experience with others.”
The TGS Indigenous Education Program will eventually extend to all students, including those in the Junior School. The emphasis will be on acknowledging and respecting the past, but not dwelling on it according to Scott.
“It’s about moving forward,” he said.
“We need to respect the past and learn from those mistakes to be able to move forward.
“We’re already seeing a shift in people’s attitudes and better acceptance of our history; I’m hoping that in ten years we will all be in a place that we are proud of; where we’ve come from and what we’ve achieved.”
Scott believes these Indigenous Education Programs are the starting point for that acceptance.
“We’re heading in the right direction, we need to keep the momentum and encourage that awareness, to all learn from each other and be proud of our past.”
Toowoomba Grammar School is proud to present this opportunity to our students and we look forward to the further development of the Indigenous Education program under Scott’s leadership.
Latest Blog
I Have Returned to Where it Began and I Feel Right at Home
I have returned to where it all began, and I feel right at home. My parents decided when I was very young that I would attend Toowoomba Grammar School as a boarder. Coming from a property surrounded by a small community, my parents believed that sending me to TGS would provide me with many fundamental skills needed for a young man, as well as an education that I could not get in my hometown.. Starting my journey at TGS in Year 8 as a boarder in Mackintosh, adjusting from a small country high…
Tuning in to TGS Old Boy (1995-99) - Stuart St Vincent Welch
Our Old Boys have such diverse career paths; we are so proud of the good young men they become and how they make meaningful contributions to their communities. Stuart St Vincent Welch describes himself as an average student who had no idea what he wanted to do after school. But drawing on the TGS values of hard work, respect and resilience he is now working as a Sound Engineer for Barking Owl in New York City, rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s most renowned musicians and actors. He…
The TGS Show Cattle Team - On the moooove
The TGS Show Cattle Team commenced in Term 1 2021 under the guidance of Mr Jack Murphy and Mrs Julie Brophy. The concept of the team was to give boys a hands-on, extracurricular opportunity in the agricultural industry. The boys have been competing in the Young Judges’ competitions at a range of shows across Queensland. The Young Judges’ competition is based on the goal of expanding the boys' knowledge of the skills that are a foundation of the animal production industry, helping them as…
The Importance of Routines
Routines are an important part of our daily lives, providing structure and stability. This is especially true for children in their formative years, who benefit from having consistent and predictable routines in both their school and home environments. At Toowoomba Grammar School Junior School, we believe that routines are essential for helping students thrive both inside and outside the classroom. One of the key ways in which routines help students is by providing a sense of security and…
Ten Steps Ahead - Jackie Gallagher
As a high school athlete, Jackie Gallagher had the world at her feet. She was in a unique position where she was excellent at any distance from 100m to 800m. She broke Queensland and National records and was regularly selected for State and National teams. Jackie was selected for the Australian Youth team to compete at the World Youth Championships in Canada as an U18 along with the Australian Junior Commonwealth Games and the Youth Olympics, before making the U20 Australian team to compete at…
The Makings of a Premiership
The 2022 1st V Basketball squad will be forever etched in the pages of Toowoomba Grammar School history as the first TGS team to win a GPS Basketball Premiership since the competition commenced in 1984. Head of Basketball, and 1st V Coach, Mr Kabe Cicolini has been instrumental in the growth and success of not just our leading team, but of the TGS Basketball Program as a whole. Kabe has come from a background of playing GPS sport – cricket, rugby and basketball as a student at Ipswich Grammar…
Creating a Learning Environment that Boys Enjoy
Creating an environment for students to access and engage in learning is the educational philosophy of the new Toowoomba Grammar School Head of Junior School, Mr Ken Raven. “This requires a supportive an inclusive learning environment across the school where everyone feels they can make a positive contribution,” Mr Raven stated. “I encourage evidence-informed, explicit teaching of curriculum that sparks curiosity and interest for students to engage and explore.” Parental interaction and…
Introducing our new Deputy Head of Junior School (Teaching and Learning), Mrs Chantelle Bauer
Toowoomba Grammar School is excited to welcome our new Deputy Head of Junior School (Teaching and Learning), Mrs Chantelle Bauer. Mrs Bauer brings a wealth of experience and passion to her new role, having lived and worked in the Darling Downs and Southwest Queensland region her entire life. She was born and bred in St George, attended university in Toowoomba and took her first teaching role in Roma. She has worked in various roles across the region, including Year Level Coordinator, Head of…
You can't know a student without knowing where they come from
Boarding at Toowoomba Grammar School can be described as many things such as evolving identity, growing personally and developing character in your second home, but it is also about growing your family. Head of Boyce House boarding, Mr Michael Hall and his family, certainly enjoyed that opportunity over January. Catching up with a beautiful collection of current families from Boyce House was a privilege and has helped to build the relationships of trust and care that are essential in a…
