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
The Transition to Secondary School
Research shows us that the move from a primary school to a secondary school is one of the most significant life changes that our young men will face. You can help make the transition to Senior School smoother by ensuring that the boys attend the orientation days, practice packing their bags and getting their sports, music, and activities equipment ready. When asked about tips for the boys coming into Year 7, current Year 7 dayboy, Ollie Wells suggests boys should “Be organised. Pack the night…
Nothing is Impossible
Toowoomba Grammar School's Year 7C English has been studying 'Cool Runnings' to learn about how stories or movies based on real life aren't always completely true. Extremely fascinated by the topic, young student Harry Ryan took it upon himself to message (via LinkedIn) the bobsled driver, Mr Dudley Stokes - he responded! After a little communication between the two, Harry asked Mr Stokes if he could FaceTime him during an English lesson, to 'meet' his teacher Mr Paul Irwin and classmates…
Simple Acts of Kindness
Giving back to the community is an important value that Toowoomba Grammar School endeavours to instill in our boys. Year 12 student, Tumoana Strugnell is a shining example of how it costs nothing but our time to help others, especially as we move into the Festive season and the challenges of life seem heightened. I first became involved in community service when I was in Year 6, through my local primary school’s involvement on ANZAC Day and my parent’s involvement in local community events. I’m…
A Holistic Approach to our Boarders' Activities Program
A true education is about much more than just lessons in a classroom. It’s about providing experiences that challenge a child, physically and mentally. It’s about providing opportunities that build independence, resilience and that help develop their good character. Toowoomba Grammar School is proud to offer a broad and liberal education that stretches way beyond the walls of a classroom and equips our boys with the skills to flourish as an individual. We offer a diverse and engaging…
A Beginner's Guide to Manga
If your son has brought home a book with big eyed characters, and he seems to be reading backwards, chances are, he's discovered Manga. The Dent library has a Manga collection that would be the envy of many schools, with over 100 unique titles. It Is easily the most visited section in the library, over half of the top 100 titles borrowed this year are Manga! But what is Manga? Manga is an umbrella term for a variety of print comics and graphic novels originating from Japan. Unlike western…
A Safe, Welcoming and Joyous Community
Tell us about yourself My background, at least that associated with boarding and teaching, is long and varied with a number of different aspects leading to this chosen career path. For the most part, I was schooled in Canberra but had extended periods in Lesotho, Norfolk Island, and Samoa as a result of my father’s work in foreign aid. My schooling was quite disruptive, and I wasn’t a model student! I was always passionate about English; often distracting myself (amongst other things) immersed…
Facilitating Respect
Recently the 2022 TGS Prefect group spoke at the Headmaster’s Assembly about respecting individuality. But what does this mean? The foundations for a successful relationship with peers, family, co-workers, and others is framed and supported by a two-way street of respect. However, for this two-way street to be functional it is important to know that respect cannot be demanded, it can only be earned. Toowoomba Grammar School is no different and respect is nurtured in various forms such as in the…
The Benefits of Early Learning at TGS
Making a decision about our children’s education can be difficult; especially when there are so many options available. Once upon a time parents simply sent their children to the school that was a walkable distance from home. Much research has evolved since the early 1900s about what is best for our children to foster a love of learning and feel confident and safe in the classroom. Here at Toowoomba Grammar School, we take this very seriously. Pastoral care comes before anything else; we see…
Outside of the Text Book
“The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” — Ludwig Wittgenstein There is no denying that learning a foreign language can sometimes be a challenging experience, particularly with limited opportunity to practise outside the classroom. However, learning a language is a skill that will add to many facets of your life, often without you even realising, and as part of a well-rounded education, the value of language learning cannot be underestimated. "A different language is a…
