By: Mathew Lumb

Students from the North Western region of Sydney,  NSW, Australia
experienced cultural diversity  first hand while checking out a distant
area of their own ‘back yard’. This was the trip of a life-time for 14
high schoolers from years 9, 10 and 11.  It was the first time away
from home for some let alone experiencing a totally different culture
and way of life.

Destination: coastal Northern Territory Australia. Hosts: three very
different yet welcoming Indigenous Communities. They visited Belyuen,
near Mandorah, Bagot Community in Darwin and Galiwin’ku on Elcho
Island.

Apart from the initial shock of the hot weather and the need to drink
greater quantities of water than was usual back home the team slipped
into a new experience with great enthusiasm and a willingness to
support each other, try new things and meet lots of new friends.

The students noticed that school seemed to be quite a struggle for the
Indigenous children and many attempts are being made to introduce
programs to build retention rates and enhance cultural connection. In
some areas, local languages are used as the teaching vehicle to enhance
both cultural awareness and literacy development for Indigenous
students. Students met a number of Indigenous people who had gained
specialised training in order to assist various aspects of their own
community development. Indigenous health workers, youth workers and
others were working alongside their own people to help facilitate
access to culturally sensitive services designed to enhance quality of
life for those at critical life stages.

Students commented that they’d had no previous contact with Indigenous
people and knew little except for stereotypes portrayed in the media.
Meeting people in the communities dispelled their initial nervousness
and gave them a real understanding of the many similarities between
them as individuals.

They enjoyed being able to take time out to learn a little about
hunting and food preparation using traditional methods available within
the natural environment.  Students were also able to observe how
technology and influences from other cultures have impacted on some
areas of  traditional life style. Playing with the primary school aged
children, tours around the communities, chatting with some of the
teenagers and adults gave the visitors a real sense of many of the
cultural issues facing the traditional owners.

In times of group de-briefing the same experiences and thoughts were
echoed by many of the the students about their own views being
challenged and the way their awareness of struggles, problems and
difficulties of  was growing. The students became aware of the
contrasts in underlying world views and driving core values between
their hosts and themselves.

These discoveries have given the students a deeper insight into
themselves and into the lives of the Indigenous people they met. They
left the Northern Territory with many memories, new experiences and
much food for thought. They hope to share their discoveries with their
families, peers and contacts and encourage others to develop a deeper
awareness through hearing their stories and real life experiences. .

For School Days.
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