The 2017 South West Sydney (SWS) Aboriginal Student Achievement Awards took place on Monday 23rd October 2017 at Vmax Event Cinemas in Macarthur Square.
The South West Sydney (SWS) Aboriginal Student Achievement Awards is an annual event that acknowledges the achievements of Aboriginal students and contributions by Aboriginal community members to Aboriginal Education in the South West Sydney region.
The event is run in collaboration with KARI, Mil-Pra Regional Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, Dharawal Regional Aboriginal Education Consultative Group and NSW Government Education Public Schools.
Recipients of these awards were nominated by their teachers in a range of categories including;
- Culture, Courage and Commitment
- Literacy
- Numeracy
- Sporting Achievements
- Attendance
- Leadership, Citizenship and Community Services
- Creative and Performing Arts
- Community Acknowledgement
In 2012, KARI proposed that a new incentive be implemented into the existing awards as a way to combat the growth in the amount of students completing their studies as a result to changes in legislation. The award is called the KARI All Rounder Initiative Award.
The award is given to one student from each grade K-12 and consists of a certificate as well as an age appropriate gift, such as a book pack or gift card.
Students who receive this award are selected from nominations sent in by teachers as per the regions’ nomination guidelines. Students who are selected must display achievements in all facets of their learning to be considered an ‘all-rounder’.
2017 KARI All Rounder Initiative Award recipients:
- Dakota Green – Airds High School
- Jordan Chalmers – Bass High School
- Felicity Walsh – Bowral High School
- Mesha Holder – Sarah Redfern High School
- Kirrinda Ballangarry – Curran Public School
- Ethan Hill – Thomas Acres Public School
- Addisyn Bridges – Thomas Acres Public School
- Hope West – Thomas Acres Public School
- Riley Johns – Narellan Vale Public School
- Georgia Eggert – Elderslie High School
We also presented an award to the Student Awards art competition winner. The purpose of this competition was to design a logo that met the theme for the 2017 awards invitation and programs.
This year’s theme was ‘Our Students, Our Culture, Our future – Taking the next step together’. This year’s winner was Emma-Leigh McGuiness from Sarah Redfern High School. We presented her with a certificate and a $250 gift voucher to Eckersleys Arts and Crafts.
KARI’s VIP students performed Djapana to the families and attendees on the night.
Thank you to all who attended and showed their support for the students. It was wonderful to acknowledge these Aboriginal students for their outstanding achievements.
