BALLAJURA Primary School is set to undertake a significant cultural project with the design and creation of a large-scale school mural focused on Whadjuk Noongar culture, following the successful acquisition of state government funding through the Partnership Acceptance Learning Sharing (PALS) program.

The school is one of sixteen across the state celebrating the grants that collectively total nearly $79,000 in Term 3 funding, aimed at strengthening cultural understanding in WA schools.

Associate Principal Siobhan Jones expressed her excitement, calling the mural a new frontier in the school’s cultural development.

“We’re just beginning our deeply important culturally responsive journey,” she said.

“Winning the PALS grant allows us to make a meaningful first step in strengthening our understanding of Whadjuk Noongar culture, and ensuring it’s respectfully reflected in our school.”

The school has commissioned Aboriginal artist Amy McGuire of Bunja Artistry to guide the project.

“We’re honoured to be working with Amy, whose knowledge and creativity will help guide this important work with authenticity and care – and that’s the most important thing is the authenticity,” Ms Jones said.

The planned mural will be developed through an extensive consultation process, giving students, parents, and teachers the opportunity to be involved in the decision-making process, with the goal of making it reflective of the school community.

“This isn’t just for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids,” Ms Jones said.

“This is for the whole school community - we want it to reflect that we all come from very different places but that we all belong here at Ballajura.

“We learn on Whadjuk Boodja, so I think it’s important that we recognise the land in which we learn and live.”

Artist Amy McGuire said the mural will be designed with input from the entire school community

“We’re going to run a workshop soon and get some feedback from the kids on what they might want to include, because it’s their story at the end of the day,” she said.

“I want my art to reflect that, so it has a deeper meaning and significance to the school and the people here.”

Ms McGuire also plans to draw on her own heritage as a Noongar woman in combination with the input received from the school community.

“I put a lot of things in there that are significant to not only the land or the people, but also things that represent me and the people I do the piece for,” she said.

“It’ll be a bit of a combination of everything, but definitely based around culture and knowledge.”