EDUCATION

Culture College is a social enterprise that provides tailored educational programs for visiting students, teachers, professionals and executives in partnership with the Yolngu people of north east Arnhem Land. The purpose of the programs is to gain an understanding and appreciation of Australia’s Indigenous history and culture. For the Yolngu partners, Aboriginal Corporations, local businesses and others, the programs create a viable industry to enable Indigenous people to derive a sustainable income on their customary lands.

Hooker Family Foundation is working on new opportunities for education in the region including scholarships and more educational programs for Indigenous students.

Educational outcomes

• For our Culture College participants to be a part of shaping a new generation where Aboriginal culture is firmly acknowledged and accepted in the dominant Australian culture as a shared and equal story that has brought us to the present moment.
• For students to have safe, fun and meaningful interactions with Yolngu people where cultures are shared, positive memories are made and relationships between schools and Yolngu families are forged.

Whilst the focus is for cultural education from Yolngu through workshops, there is a magic around cultural sharing from both sides and each group performs their own act to tell their own story.

The experiences and knowledge students take home is a gift for life, which will change the way we think and live with each other. New friendships are made and therefore many new educational opportunities.

We believe our programs can assist in developing lifetime cross-cultural relationships for Australia’s youth – unite and empower the next generation of Australia’s leaders today through educational exchange programs and ensure a stronger, more dynamic Australia tomorrow.

Hooker Family Foundation is a long term partner of Culture College. HFF created the program Kids to Coast, an educational exchange program for Indigenous and non-Indigenous young Australians that develops a stronger and wiser next generation of leaders, by bridging the cultural divide and building lifetime friendships.

HFF is working on new opportunities for education in the region including scholarships and more educational programs on country.

Culture College provides tailored educational programs for visiting students, teachers, professionals and executives in partnership with the Yolngu people of north east Arnhem Land. The purpose of the programs is to gain an understanding and appreciation of Australia’s Indigenous history and culture. For the Yolngu partners, Aboriginal Corporations, local businesses and others, the programs create a viable industry to enable Indigenous people to derive a sustainable income on their customary lands.

The core program is 7-10 days but can be varied to suit requirements. All programs are delivered on site in north east Arnhem Land. The College operates in from March to November including during the school holiday periods.

As the tour operator Culture College provides all of the end-to-end logistics from bookings, transport, accommodation, catering to risk management.

The Culture College experience has been proven by non-government secondary schools and educators with the expectation, ability and capacity to provide intensive educational off-site enrichment programs for students in their secondary years.

There are currently two distinct programs:

Homeland: Based on traditional land for groups of 20-25 people
With Traditional Owner support, Culture College delivers aspects of its programs in a Homeland setting. This offers a large and diverse environmental landscape where participants can take part in guided cultural and outdoor education activities learning about country. Accessing the Homelands requires an approximately 3 to 4 hours 4×4 drive from Nhulunbuy.

Midawarr: Based on the Gulkula site which can cater for whole year levels of 120-200+ people
From the Culture College base in Nhulunbuy, the Midawarr Program operates from the Gulkula site located approximately 30 minutes driving time south east of Nhulunbuy (latitude 12.1762, longitude: 136.7758).

Gulkula Site
The Gulkula site is a significant Gumatj ceremonial site in north east Arnhem Land but one widely accepted by all clans as a meeting place. The serviced site sits on as escarpment overlooking the Gulf of Carpentaria and has the capacity to accommodate up to 2,500 people at any one time. Since 1999 Gulkula has been used as the site for the annual Garma Festival and each year, investment in facilities, meeting rooms, training spaces, telecommunications, catering, dining and accommodation has made it an increasingly viable facility for a wide range of programs and events. The site is accessible year-round on sealed and unsealed roads.

Participants stay at Gulkula unless accommodated in Culture College’s 60 bed facility at Gove House, Nhulunbuy (on arrival and or departure day). Culture College has an existing commercial partnership with Gumatj Corporation allowing access to the Gulkula site and use of the amenities. This agreement allows for additional programs and there exists significant capacity to host more visits throughout the year.

“Culture College understands and acknowledges you have entrusted us with that which is most valuable to you – your child. We want to let you know how seriously we take that responsibility and how excited we are about the opportunity to immerse them in the culture of the first Australians in East Arnhem Land. We draw from extensive resources and have spent countless hours planning our trips to make them as exciting and enriching as possible.

Culture College also understands and acknowledges that we are working to promote and foster the Mission, Value and Identity of each of the Schools that we work with. We appreciate your School’s decision on taking a group of students to East Arnhem Land to immerse them in the culture of the First Australians from this area. Our facilities and connections in the region will make sure that your School’s reputation as a leading school within Australia will be strengthened through this experience and your child has a once in a lifetime enlightening experience.”

‘ I HAVE LEARNED AND GROWN INTO A BETTER PERSON AND AM NOW
ABLE TO SEE THE WORD WITH A MORE OPEN MIND.’
– YEAR 9 STUDENT, SYDNEY

Each group will contain a maximum of 15 students/parents with 1 staff member from their school and an outdoor education professional (Program Leader) from Culture College. In many activities there will also be a ranger or tour guide as additional staff. The staff-to-student ratio may differ according to individual school requirements and therefore ratios will be discussed with your school.

Program Leaders will all have the required qualifications and will meet Australian Adventure Activity Standards (AAS). All drivers involved in transportation will hold relevant mini bus license or coach licenses and adhere to strict protocols for student transportation safety.