The Walking Country program which commenced in the Armidale Diocese Schools this year is focused on building school and community relationships through consultation, listening and conversation with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. A program of meet and greet visits has commenced led by the CCSP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee Chair and Armidale Diocese Representative Jason Allan, along with Armidale Catholic Schools Office Indigenous Education K-12 Officer Karen Tighe and Parent Engagement Officer Catherine Ible.

Schools are encouraged to invite their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers to a meet and greet either on the school campus or another location. These visits will build on the foundations families have with their school and encourage parents and carers voices to be heard through a shared vision of respect, responsibility and relationships.

The last five years has seen an increase in our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enrolments across the Diocese of Armidale and that enrolment is now 15% of the total student population. This Walking Country Program will help to strengthen the relationships families and schools needed to meet the students specific learning needs.

Our schools have a rich Indigenous culture encapsulating the stories of the community Elders and families who are deeply connected physically and spiritually to the land and Walking Country with each other will foster Country, culture, community and curriculum through sharing conversations, insights, concerns and successes.