A new move to rename State schools to incorporate Aboriginal languages and culture has been announced by the Minister for Education, Natalie Hutchins.
Announcing that more Victorian government schools and campuses are to be renamed to follow the Department of Education’s School and Campus Naming Policy, Ms Hutchins said the change would be led to more widespread use of First Nations languages when selecting school and campus names, through a stronger and simpler selection process.
“The changes will ensure that only Traditional Owner groups will propose Aboriginal language names, with all new Government schools and campuses to have proposed names in preference as an initiative to further promote Aboriginal self-determination,” Ms Hutchins said.
“The changes will also clarify and streamline the approach to engaging with First Nations groups and communities.”
She said the policy was previously updated in March 2022 to introduce new requirements including mandatory consultation with Traditional Owner groups and extending the use of the Engage Victoria platform for public consultation on new names.
She said there were 14 new Government schools scheduled to open in 2024 and the naming process for those already under way were in close consultation with Traditional Owner groups and Regional Advisory Groups.
Ms Hutchins said changes did not affect the ongoing consultation with the groups but were expected to be in effect for naming the new schools in 2025.
She said Victoria was the first and only Australian jurisdiction to action the Treaty and Truth elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, with this latest naming policy another step in providing First Nations recognition in Victoria.
The Minister announced the changes to the Department of Education’s School and Campus Naming Policy, which is to deliver more widespread use of First Nations languages when selecting school and campus names, through a stronger and simpler selection process.
Several new Government schools and campuses that opened this year have Aboriginal language names, including Barrawang PS, Karwan PS, Kurrun PS, Nearnung PS, Wayi School and Ngarri PS, and the Minister approved the renaming of Moreland PS to Merri-bek PS.
Victoria is the first and only Australian jurisdiction to action the Treaty and Truth elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, with this latest naming policy another step in providing First Nations recognition in Victoria.
