{"id":123,"date":"2021-12-04T23:20:31","date_gmt":"2021-12-04T12:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/about-us\/what-makes-gawura-special\/"},"modified":"2025-11-25T19:13:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T08:13:08","slug":"what-makes-gawura-special","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/about-us\/what-makes-gawura-special\/","title":{"rendered":"What makes Gawura School special?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About Gawura School<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gawura School is a highly regarded model of Indigenous Education, offering students a supportive, nurturing space where they feel secure, are surrounded by culture and language, and can learn at their own skill level. Students achieve academic milestones daily and grow in their abilities in academic subjects, sport and the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Engagement of Gawura School families, parents and carers is critical to our success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our 36 Gawura School students are supported by government funding and through the generosity of donors.\u00a0 Our eight secondary students are 95 per cent funded by individuals and families, corporates and foundations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can read the School&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2025-SACS-RAP-FA5-WEB.pdf\">Restoration Action Plan<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2025_SACS-First-Nations-K-12-Strategic-Plan-Brochure_FA5.pdf\">First Nations Strategic Plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Gawura School is a unique, coeducational Kindergarten to Year 6, day school, for First Nations children who live at home with their families.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<div class=\"video-reveal-block  \">\n\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col-md-6 col-lg-5 video-thumb\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"#video-display-69de341a0c43a\" class=\"video-reveal\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"video-display-69de341a0c43a\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2023\/10\/20230911_Video-Shoot_Gawura-Botanical-Garden_-383-Lores_Gawura-Hero-600x800.jpg\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"video-play\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa-thin fa-play fa-2x\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<div\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"collapse video-display\" id=\"video-display-69de341a0c43a\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-video\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<video class=\"video-display-media\" controls=\"\" loop=\"\" preload=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/progressive_redirect\/playback\/956378965\/rendition\/720p\/file.mp4?loc=external&amp;signature=f8d2a0ced0afe86fdfa2c734f9721baf2984c5ec8d6c0c28088026d1e53213d1\"><\/video>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#video-display-69de341a0c43a\" class=\"video-display-close\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"video-display-69de341a0c43a\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"fa-thin fa-xmark fa-3x\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"col ps-md-8 video-content\">\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What makes Gawura School special?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gawura School students commence in Kindergarten \u2013 a critical, foundational year, and we keep classes small, typically with no more than six students, so we can care for students holistically.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gawura School teaches a focused, dedicated literacy and numeracy programme in a culturally enriching environment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Students learn about culture and share with each other, which builds self-esteem, confidence and resilience in each child.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We work in partnership with community and parents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gawura School offers a dedicated bus service resulting in high attendance rates of 92-94%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A unique model of Indigenous education<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key elements in Gawura School\u2019s success<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Small class sizes <\/strong>&#8211; all Gawura School classes have exceptional teacher\/student ratios, with usually between 5-10 students per class, ensuring teachers can assist with individual learning needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Intensive focus on learning literacy and numeracy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Partnership with families and carers of students <\/strong>\u2013<strong> <\/strong>is an essential element in the support of student learning. All Gawura School families\/carers are encouraged to join the parent advisory committee (GPAC), where current learning and events are discussed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A school within a larger school <\/strong>\u2013 the integration of First Nations students with non-Indigenous students (within St Andrew\u2019s Cathedral School) for art, sport, science, geography, history, music and camps, and in the playground; ensures students are supported in their journey into the larger St Andrew\u2019s Cathedral School community, from Years 7-12.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Learning of Wiradjuri language and Indigenous cultural lessons<\/strong> \u2013<strong> <\/strong>all Gawura School students learn Wiradjuri and have First Nations cultural lessons. Parents\/carers are also invited to join in to share their knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Dedicated bus service for students<\/strong> \u2013<strong> <\/strong>the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/about-us\/transport\/\">Gawura School bus<\/a> collects students each morning from their homes and returns them in the afternoon, provided they live within the 3km radius of inner city and inner west suburbs serviced by our bus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Cultural excursions and on-country tours<\/strong> \u2013 these excursions and tours ensure Gawura School students learn the history and narratives of particular Nations from Elders of that land, promoting a sense of pride in their own culture and history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Large number of First Nations staff <\/strong>\u2013 which deepens the authenticity of the programme and provides valuable role models to all within Gawura School, and St Andrew\u2019s Cathedral School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Scholarships for all students <\/strong>\u2013<strong> <\/strong>Gawura School\u2019s corporate and individual donors ensure students have full access to all the opportunities offered at a well resourced, independent school.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Caring Christian learning environment <\/strong>\u2013 the care and wellbeing of students is paramount at Gawura School and is built on the premise that children learn best when they are healthy, safe and happy. Our staff aim to develop in students a strong sense of identity, resilience and connectedness through all areas of school life. Our approach is underpinned by a Christian culture of care based on Biblical principles regarding humanity\u2019s inherent value as beloved children of God. We therefore seek to nurture a deep respect for the human dignity of First Nations Australians and their culture, in all that we do at Gawura School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Gawura \u2013 a world of opportunities\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pAP-adPjzIA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Gawura School \u2013 a world of opportunities for First Nations students. <em>Join us in 2026!<\/em><\/em> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/join-us\/scholarships\/indigenous-scholarships\/\">Apply here<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-font-azo has-medium-font-size\"><strong>You may also be interested in<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-blue-color has-text-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/about-us\/our-people\/\">Our People<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--2\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-blue-color has-text-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/2025-SACS-RAP-FA5-WEB.pdf\">Restoration Action Plan<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--3\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-blue-color has-text-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/2025_SACS-First-Nations-K-12-Strategic-Plan-Brochure_FA5.pdf\">First Nations Strategic Plan<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gawura School aims to give First Nations students opportunities to fully participate in the life of the School and to &#8216;close the gap&#8217; in educational disadvantage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":873,"parent":5,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"14230,7764,14851,9765,13740,9295","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-123","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/123","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123"}],"version-history":[{"count":36,"href":"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/123\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":985,"href":"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/123\/revisions\/985"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sacs.nsw.edu.au\/gawura\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}