Toowoomba Grammar School has added the new role of Indigenous Education Coordinator to the School’s offering, to further promote a culture of diversity, inclusivity, and reconciliation.
Mr Scott Gale has been appointed to this ground-breaking position that aims to spread awareness and understanding of the significance of Australia’s culture and history.
“That’s something that has been lacking in Australia’s education system for so long,” said Scott.
“It’s an extremely significant part of our history and to see this shift and acceptance of our past is a great thing.”
Scott was the Indigenous Education Coordinator at St Joseph’s Nudgee College for the past two years. He supported Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through the school’s mentor, boarding and pastoral care programs and he was also instrumental in assisting staff deliver planned Indigenous education programs through the academic curriculum.
He’s very excited to have a blank slate to work with at TGS and develop this important new program, but his first priority is to get to know and support our Indigenous students. From there, Scott will develop a Reconciliation Action Plan for the School.
“This will outline significant events that we want to celebrate and when we can engage local elders and community members who can assist with educating our students about our history,” said Scott.
“It is a great way to help grow and develop a community that is connected and engaged with the School and to build positive relationships.”
Scott is a proud Wiradjuri man from inland NSW and is extremely passionate about his heritage.
“It wasn’t until I started high school and became part of their Indigenous Program that I became aware of the significance of my culture,” Scott stated.
“That program was the catalyst for me wanting to learn more and for becoming so proud of my heritage as a teenager. I want to share that experience with others.”
The TGS Indigenous Education Program will eventually extend to all students, including those in the Junior School. The emphasis will be on acknowledging and respecting the past, but not dwelling on it according to Scott.
“It’s about moving forward,” he said.
“We need to respect the past and learn from those mistakes to be able to move forward.
“We’re already seeing a shift in people’s attitudes and better acceptance of our history; I’m hoping that in ten years we will all be in a place that we are proud of; where we’ve come from and what we’ve achieved.”
Scott believes these Indigenous Education Programs are the starting point for that acceptance.
“We’re heading in the right direction, we need to keep the momentum and encourage that awareness, to all learn from each other and be proud of our past.”
Toowoomba Grammar School is proud to present this opportunity to our students and we look forward to the further development of the Indigenous Education program under Scott’s leadership.
Latest Blog
The Makings of a Premiership
The 2022 1st V Basketball squad will be forever etched in the pages of Toowoomba Grammar School history as the first TGS team to win a GPS Basketball Premiership since the competition commenced in 1984. Head of Basketball, and 1st V Coach, Mr Kabe Cicolini has been instrumental in the growth and success of not just our leading team, but of the TGS Basketball Program as a whole. Kabe has come from a background of playing GPS sport – cricket, rugby and basketball as a student at Ipswich Grammar…
Creating a Learning Environment that Boys Enjoy
Creating an environment for students to access and engage in learning is the educational philosophy of the new Toowoomba Grammar School Head of Junior School, Mr Ken Raven. “This requires a supportive an inclusive learning environment across the school where everyone feels they can make a positive contribution,” Mr Raven stated. “I encourage evidence-informed, explicit teaching of curriculum that sparks curiosity and interest for students to engage and explore.” Parental interaction and…
Introducing our new Deputy Head of Junior School (Teaching and Learning), Mrs Chantelle Bauer
Toowoomba Grammar School is excited to welcome our new Deputy Head of Junior School (Teaching and Learning), Mrs Chantelle Bauer. Mrs Bauer brings a wealth of experience and passion to her new role, having lived and worked in the Darling Downs and Southwest Queensland region her entire life. She was born and bred in St George, attended university in Toowoomba and took her first teaching role in Roma. She has worked in various roles across the region, including Year Level Coordinator, Head of…
You can't know a student without knowing where they come from
Boarding at Toowoomba Grammar School can be described as many things such as evolving identity, growing personally and developing character in your second home, but it is also about growing your family. Head of Boyce House boarding, Mr Michael Hall and his family, certainly enjoyed that opportunity over January. Catching up with a beautiful collection of current families from Boyce House was a privilege and has helped to build the relationships of trust and care that are essential in a…
DNF (Did Not Finish)
- Dan CrookHead of Library and Information Services I was talking books with a friend the other day; an avid reader, she had been looking for some light reads in new genre for the holidays, and so had sought out the wisdom of the internet. After watching a few BookToks (Tiktok book recommendations) she’d settled on some titles and begun to read. However after investing a good amount of her time and getting half way through the first and most highly recommended book, she asked herself, and then…
TGS Boarding - A Safe, Welcoming and Joyous Community
“From a boarding perspective, enabling young boys to flourish is only achieved within a community that is safe, welcoming, and joyous. These three aspects are at the core of my boarding philosophy and are closely aligned with my fundamental values as a boarding Head of House – acceptance, resilience, and fun,” explains Mr Henry White, Head of Corfe House. Corfe House serves as the entry point for Toowoomba Grammar School’s youngest boarders (Years 5 to 7) and the skills, relationships, and…
Transitioning to Year 7 at TGS
Can you remember your first day in secondary school? It can be a time of mixed feelings - very exciting, but also quite daunting and challenging. Irrespective of whether your son is joining us from the TGS Junior School, or if they are just starting at Toowoomba Grammar School, it can appear to be the start of a long journey. It is a rite of passage in many respects but with this comes increased emotions in response to transition. The boys have a lot to digest with a new, possibly larger campus…
The Boarding Journey
Every parent will have a unique journey with their son whilst he is boarding at Toowoomba Grammar School. I’m Kym Wright, mother of Clancy, who is in Year 12 and this is my journey…. From my very first experience with Toowoomba Grammar School Boarding ten years ago, I had a good feeling straight away that TGS would be the perfect fit for my son. I was picking up my nephew for lunch. He had started boarding at TGS just six weeks prior. It was pouring rain and there were boys enthusiastically…
Building Self-Confidence and Resilience in Year 7s
As your child enters the new and unknown world of secondary school, it is a very important time to nurture the confidence and self-esteem of your son. Adolescence can also be a time of bewildering physical changes and strong emotions, opinions and increasing independence. Nurturing their confidence, self-esteem and assertiveness will go a long way to helping them to have the self-belief to tackle difficult new academic challenges, to developing new friendships and social skills, and…
