Whilst Brabham is a relatively new suburb the local area has a long and rich history for the traditional owner families and other Aboriginal peoples within the community.
Working with community, the school leadership team have identified the importance of working with traditional owner families, elders, Aboriginal artists and families to identify ways to infuse First Nations histories and cultures into the school’s design.
For our students to succeed, our school should be a place where we promote First Nations’ cultures, histories and languages and all of the cultures that make up our vibrant community. Harnessing and strengthening connections with our local cultural groups has ensured that everyone has a voice in the establishment of the school.
Naming the School
Prior to broader community engagement, the Principal, Anika Blackmore, worked with stakeholders to develop a comprehensive Aboriginal Engagement Plan which delivered ongoing and deep engagement with Aboriginal families, local cultural advisors, elders and local government representatives.
Through the local community engagement phase three Noongar names were shortlisted. These three names were taken to the Noongar Language Centre, Noongar Boodjar Language Cultural Aboriginal Corporation for further translation.
The Whadjuk Cultural Advice Committee considered the names endorsed the school’s name ‘Maarakool Primary School’ (Maarakool means with the hands), as their preferred namehighlighting that this was the most meaningful and child/ student friendly. It was also raised that maara means hands in other Aboriginal dialects. The name is significant as it symbolises children working together to problem solve and create new things through experiential learning.
The broader community had the opportunity to vote through a series of Community Conversation Cafes and a survey that was sent to all of the enrolled families, which reflected strong support for Maarakool Primary School.
Student Voice Project – Uniform Design Story
In partnership with the Djookanka Sisters the team hosted a workshop with students (in the local intake area) currently attending Brabham PS, to learn about what they valued about the school environment and their community: The shared values and ideas captured by the students were:
- Growth and journeys
- Family, friendships, connection and belonging.
- Multiculturalism (sharing in and learning about other cultures)
- Local gathering places for yarning, meeting and hosting celebrations
- Connectedness between local schools (networking)
- Caring for wildlife, parklands, water and waterways.
- Importance of leadership (student, school and community leaders)
The students’ ideas and designs were transformed by the Djookanka Sisters into a piece of artwork. This artwork has helped inform our schools evolving story including our school and staff uniforms and brand.
Maarakool: The Brand Story
Our community is diverse. A mosaic of many backgrounds, diverse cultures; ancient connections with country and fresh beginnings. Our school community is where this diversity turns to connection and togetherness—a context for these diverse pathways to intersect. It does not ignore the uniqueness of each cultural backgrounds but embraces them – a mosaic of many elements coming together into a cohesive whole. Our school brand reflects these multifaceted pathways.
These pathways not only intersect within Maarakool but also find affirmation, courage, and bravery. Students are equipped to be propelled beyond this bounded and safe environment and to return to their families of origin enriched by those connections. While the brand gives a nod to the letter ‘M’ and reflects the different building blocks that form our school community, this is not where the brand rises and falls. Rather, it is the strength with which it communicates visually the school’s aspiration to be a community where this diversity forms a mosaic of harmony, together.
