Philomena Billington Social Justice Through the Arts Scholarship

A LIVING YARNING CIRCLE FOR OUR COLLEGE

The College was awarded the Philomena Billington Social Justice Through the Arts scholarship by Catholic Education Sandhurst at the recent launch of the MacKillop Art Exhibition. This scholarship allows the winning school to undertake a social justice project that engages the arts, community and social justice.

Our winning project titled, Yarning Circle ‘ Weaving Stories, Building Community’, will endeavour to create a living yarning circle. This inclusive space would be located at our Coolock Campus in Junortoun and would be designed by and for the College community.

The creation of a yarning circle within the school grounds is a project that will create art, shape community and drive change. By empowering First Nations students to lead the project, we will not only create a beautiful and meaningful space but also promote cultural pride, reconciliation and social justice. The yarning circle will be a place where all members of the community can come together, learn from each other and work towards building a more inclusive and harmonious society. This project is an opportunity to make a lasting impact, not just within our school but in the broader community as well. The idea for the project and the space has come from both our FIRE Carriers and our First Nations students.

The yarning circle will be a living piece of art, created through the collaboration of First Nations students, local artists and community members. The design of the circle will be deeply rooted in Indigenous cultural practices and symbols, reflecting the spiritual and historical significance of yarning circles in First Nations traditions.

Mrs Cara Pawsey