Connecting to Country at Carraragarmungee Primary School

Uncle Dozer Atkinson, a proud member of the Bangerang Nation, has worked with our school to guide students' learning about First Nations Culture and Country. He has worked alongside our students to develop the school's Acknowledgement of Country.

Learning directly from a community Elder means our students hear culture and history first-hand, with respect and care at the centre.

Connecting to Country is part of our school vision, Connecting to Self, School, Community and Environment. It means students learn about the land they live on, and about the First Nations peoples who have cared for it, through respectful, hands-on learning across the year, and it shapes how we bring culture, history and community together in everyday classroom life.

Students took part in a Smoking Ceremony that deepened their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and traditions leading up to our school's 150th Birthday celebration in May 2026. Our youngest students explored Dreaming stories, and older students learned about the colonisation of Australia and its impact on Indigenous Australians.

Prep to Year 2 students learned how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples pass down knowledge, traditions and ways of caring for Country through stories, art, songs and dance. Years 3 to 6 researched Australia's history and wrote their own factual historical recounts.

Our whole school, including staff, can sign the Acknowledgement of Country song in Auslan. Bringing together First Nations culture and Auslan, Australia's sign language, reflects Carra's belief in inclusion and in connecting learning across the classroom.

You can read more about our whole-school Auslan program, another way our students learn to communicate with respect and care.