St Mary’s College in Broome welcomed twenty-two Year 9 students and six staff from Chisholm Catholic College and Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School to co-develop a real-world STEAM project on food security and sustainability. A standout moment came at Crab Creek, where students learnt to fish alongside their peers against the backdrop of tidal mangroves and wetlands. The day captured the spirit of the partnership, marked by shared learning, mutual respect, and reconciliation in action. Elders expressed pride in seeing St Mary’s students step into leadership roles, sharing cultural knowledge, and welcoming visitors to Country. As one Elder reflected, the experience was “how learning should be.”

At Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH) in the Torres Strait and St Finbarr’s Catholic Primary School, relationships were strengthened when visiting students and teachers from St Thomas More College were welcomed into the OLSH community, into people’s homes and into the heart of the school. Primary students involved in the STEM MAD program collaborated in person, with teaching and guidance from Elders on their projects. Through cultural learning opportunities led by Mr Bani, the Brisbane-based participants developed a deeper understanding of Zenadth Kes and the Kaurareg Nation. Secondary students led activities on the Kirirri campus with OLSH’s youngest learners, and all students and teachers joined together in NAIDOC Day celebrations, dancing side by side as one school community.

At Nyangatjatjara College and Immanuel College, side-by-side learning at the Imanpa campus left a lasting impression on visiting students. One Immanuel student reflected: “The Imanpa visit was an aspect of the trip that is still resonating with me, and I get joy sharing the story of it to my family members. The students were so switched on, positive and welcoming toward us, and I instantly felt like one of their classmates. The dedication the kids had to teaching us about their culture and making the experience great fuelled my heart, and that kindness jar they gifted me is in my room on my cabinet shelf.”

At Groote Eylandt Bickerton Island Primary College (GEBIPCAC) and The King’s School, the highlight of Term 2 was the Year 6 and Year 10 immersion trip to Groote Eylandt. Students spent time on Country, learnt traditional dance and song, and took part in Anindilyakwa language lessons alongside many other activities. The experience had a profound impact on two Year 10 students, who became deeply engaged with the community and left inspired to pursue future pathways that support Indigenous communities.

This term, Jabiru Area School (JAS) and Caulfield Grammar School (CGS) collaborated on a joint art project and assembly to commemorate Reconciliation Week 2025. The theme, ‘From Now, to Next’, was represented through the image of a leaf. Together, CGS and JAS students wrote personal pledges on one side of each leaf and painted the other side. The completed leaves were then displayed on a tree at JAS, serving as an ongoing reminder of the shared purpose and spirit behind the schools’ partnership.

At Wugularr and Woodleigh School during National Reconciliation Week, sixteen Year 5/6 students from Wugularr joined Penbank’s Year 6 program. For eight days they shared classrooms and explored new experiences, staying with host families, where they learned about different routines, dynamics and ways of living. The week closed with a proud moment as students presented their personal reflections to the entire Penbank school community. Following the camp, six students remained for a further two weeks of immersion, supported by three houseparents and one teacher. They received one-on-one literacy and numeracy support, continued with the curriculum, and deepened their familiarity with routines, expectations and peer relationships. This sustained time together built confidence, independence and a genuine sense of belonging, while also delivering significant academic gains.

At Brewarrina Christian School and Green Point Christian College (GPCC), relationships developed through memorable experiences. A pen pal exchange facilitated students writing regularly, building literacy skills while sharing their own perspectives with new friends. When the GPCC Year 9 boys visited Brewarrina in May, a campout by the river became a highlight. Around the fire, with fishing rods in hand and meals cooked together, students swapped stories about their lives and cultures, forming connections that carried on through the rest of the trip. For Year 5 and 6 students, time away with the larger Green Point cohort meant forming new friendships, sharing learning experiences, and the excitement of exploring new places together.

At Wadja Wadja High School and Carinity Education Rockhampton, the partnership was strengthened through a yarning circle. Key leaders came together to reflect on what had been achieved so far and to shape a shared direction for the future. The conversation focused on building from the strengths of the partnership and ensuring the path ahead continues to honour both communities.