Strelley Community School

Strelley Community School is the oldest continually operational Independent Aboriginal Community School in Australia and commenced operation in 1976.

Strelley Community School is situated in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.  There have been three annexes that comprise Strelley Community School in the past.  Strelley, which is located 60km east of Port Hedland.  Woodstock, 200kms south of Port Hedland.  Warralong is 160kms south-east of Port Hedland, between the Shaw and DeGrey Rivers, and is currently the administrative centre of the school.  All campuses have telephone communication.  Woodstock closed in 2006.  Strelley Community was badly damaged by Cyclone George in March 2007 and the families moved to Warralong.  It is expected that Strelley will reopen in 2009.

The Community was fully involved in the setting up of the school in 1976 and continues at the legal and practical level to be involved in the operation of the school.  The Nomads Charitable and Educational Foundation is the school authority as requested by the Community.  The executive members of the Foundation are responsible to the Community for articulating school policy and ensuring its effective implementation.  The non-Aboriginal staff are employees of this organisation.

The day to day running of the school is constitutionally delegated to the School Committee which in turn is ultimately responsible to the Community through the Foundation.  The School Committee comprises of representatives of family groups and the Principal acts as Secretary for the School Committee.

Since the school was originally established at Strelley, the Community has requested that annexes be established in response to moves by family groups within the larger Community.  The most recent of these moves was in 1991 when a number of families moved to Woodstock and more families followed during the latter part of the year.

Students in the school are ESL learners, drawn from a language background that is predominantly Nyangumarta, with Warnman and Manyjiljarra spoken by some members of the Community.  There are approximately 70 students in the school ranging from pre-school to high school aged children.

The school values and promotes the cultural heritage of its students.  Nyangumarta is the target language of the school's LOTE program and an extensive collection of Nyangumarta resources has been created and developed over the years by community members, Language Specialists and Linquists for the teaching of Nyangumarta.

The school's curriculum employs learning, teaching and assessment programs that provide each student with opportunities to demonstrate the learning outcomes identified in the Curriculum Frameworks.  The delivery of the school curriculum endeavours to be rich and varied, and to provide the students with a learning environment that is supportive, stimulating and encourages student participation, growth and development.

A high emphasis has been placed on the attainment of literacy and numeracy skills for all year levels.  An important component in teaching literacy skills is the school's commitment to the National Accelerated Literacy Program and to the employment of technology.

At the outset of the school, the Community had very clear aims for the school.  With some variations, as a result of the changing nature of the Community, these expectations remain the same.

STRELLEY SCHOOL AIMS

• Teach the kids survival skills;
• Keep children in our hands and keep them straight;
• Community involvement;
• Learn about Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultures;
• Teach in our own language;
• Teach our children English;
• Take children from school through to work;
• Promote self-identity;
• Maintenance of Nyangumarta traditions;
• Have school near parents and camp ­ do not send children away;
• People outside the school are very important in the learning situation.

Strelley Community School
Strelley/Warralong (Nomads Community)
Locked Bag 188
PORT HEDLAND  WA 6721
ph:  (08) 9176 4925
fax:  (08) 9176 4984
e-mail:  principal.strelley@bigpond.com

Strelley
Strelley Pastoral Lease

Warralong
Warralong Pastoral Lease

Principals:  Ms Kate McKenzie
Chairperson:  Mr Monty Hale 

Nomads Charitable and Educational Foundation: 
Mr Ray Butler
20 Kalamunda Road
SOUTH GUILFORD  WA 6055
ph:   (08) 9279 4308
fax:  (08) 9279 8560
e:  admin@ncaef.com.au