St Bernard's College

Our St Bernard's College community strives to embrace and celebrate the rich and diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures of Australia. We are dedicated to fostering deep understanding, empathy, and the reconciliation of past and present events by learning about and sharing the true histories of Australia and the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our inclusive community promotes respectful relationships and provides equal and equitable opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians to learn, grow, and thrive together. Through providing a Liberating Education, we deeply value and recognise the enduring contributions, knowledges, and cultural traditions of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to the broader Australian society. Our vision for reconciliation is to create an inclusive and culturally responsive learning environment that honors and respects the unique cultures and histories of all First Nations communities. We strive to cultivate cultural understanding, establish meaningful relationships and partnerships with local First Nations Elders, communities, and organisations.   We will continuously review our policies to ensure cultural safety and responsiveness. We strive to honor the rich histories of First Nations life on this Land, acknowledge the past injustices inflicted on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and work towards a future where cultural understanding, respect, and justice prevail. This vision for reconciliation guides us in creating a better world for all. Through deep listening and discerned action, may our St Bernards community walk together with First Nations sisters and brothers to better understand the rich cultures and spiritualities of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, their care of the Land and Waterways, embrace and celebrate the world's longest living cultures, and commit to learning, unlearning and relearning the truth of our shared history.      In this spirit of humility and reconciliation, we commit ourselves again to listening to the ancient and ongoing wisdom that resides with First Nations peoples, so that we live in harmony with one another, and with the Earth that is our common home.