Pathways
Local First Nations Education Information
Year 5 & 6
For general support from F-12 to help build strong relationships and engagement between schools, staff, students, and families, the Victorian Department of Education Koorie Engagement Support Officers [KESOs] are a locally-based team of professionals who understand local Koorie culture and history of the community. Their role is to provide guidance and help schools build capacity to improve the education outcomes for their First Nations students. Contact the KESOs directly through your local DE office or visit our website for details.
In-School Programs
In 2025 local KESOs partnered with educators to launch a unique program designed specifically for local First Nations grade 5 & 6 students. The First Nations Leadership Days and Celebration Day are open to all primary schools
in the region to participate. First Nations students take part in a series of workshops teaching and celebrating culture, leadership, learning language, and connecting with other First Nations students outside their own schools.
The Warrnambool-Moyne region is currently the only area in Victoria to have all three First Nations student leadership organisations, Clontarf Academy, Koorie Academy of Excellence (KAE), and Stars Foundation. Applications for all three programs can be accepted from Grade 6 onwards. Further details about these programs can be found on the Years 7-9 page, and on the Further Resources for Educators page.
Supporting and building strong rapport between schools and First Nations students can take many forms. School’s can initiate their own programs that can be incorporated in their broader curriculum or wellbeing programs, such as:
- A social group for First Nations students operating at recess or lunchtimes providing cultural support and connection
- Creating collaborative artworks with a local First Nations artist
- Student leadership activities,
- social events such as pizza nights or bbq’s with First Nations families of students to encourage connection between school and Community
- contacting your local Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation (ACCO) and inviting an Elder to come and speak at the school.
- enrolling staff in Community Understanding and Safety Training (CUST) delivered by Koorie Engagement Support Officers Term 1 or 2 each year.
Excursions
BioCats – First Nations students can explore the maths and science of AFL Football with BioLab and the Geelong Cats AFL Team on this annual KESO trip. Contact the South West Koorie Engagement Support team directly to find out more or to register.
See also Community Programs. Many of the ACCO-led youth programs offer excursions throughout the year, outside of school hours.
Scholarships
There are many scholarships available to First Nations primary school students, either to support their current schooling, or for attending boarding schools in Victoria or throughout Australia. NB: Some boarding scholarship applications must be started by Grade 5.
Examples of scholarships include:
Boarding school scholarships:
Transition
Local Koorie Engagement Support Officers are developing a new Transition to Secondary School Program. This program will include an information day for students at their school of choice, an introduction to the teams at Clontarf, Koorie Academy of Excellence (KAE), and Stars, and activities to get to know the school and their staff.
Educators, First Nations students and families can also contact secondary schools directly. Schools may offer further opportunities for transition support, such as family information nights, individualised school visits and tours, or providing the option for the appropriate secondary school staff to sit-in on IEP/SSG meetings pre-transition to ease handover.
Visit our Further Resources for Educators page to find out
about more scholarships and their application process.
Community Programs
Local educators can support their First Nations students by understanding the Community supports and programs that are available, and by having strong connections with the local Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) that run programs throughout the year. While it is always best to contact the organisations directly to find out what supports they offer and the programs they are running, see below for examples of regular on-going programs. For more information see our page on Further Resources for Educators.
Gunditjmara Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd. Kooyang Maarr (ages 5-12) – social group for boys and girls focused on cultural learnings and wellbeing. Includes camps, excursions, and school holiday programs.
- Ready for learning [The Koori Way] – Held in January before the school year begins, a full day event with activities and a 3×3 basketball competition.
- Koko Blokes (ages 7-17) – Koko is a Kirrae Whurrong word meaning younger brother. The boys get together each week and participate in fun fitness activities, camps, cultural activities, dance and more.
- Little Sista’s (ages 7-12) – Run fortnightly, alternating with Kalat Girls (see below) offering fun fitness activities, craft activities, cultural activities, and more.
- Kalat Girls (ages 12-25) – Kalat is a Kirrae Whurrong word meaning eldest sister. The girls get together and participate in fun fitness activities, craft activities, cultural activities, and more.
- School Holiday Programs – Weekly during school holidays, including sport, physical fitness, art, music, craft, culture, cooking and more. A program of activities is released before each holiday period.
