OUR PHILOSOPHY

Building multi-lingual and culturally inclusive futures for our children

Rawa Community School has been operating since 1983, although Martu* education has been happening on Country for more than 60,000 years. The school comprises of two campuses in the communities of Kunawarritji and Punmu, located on Manyjilyjarra and Warnman Country respectively.

Best described by the school’s first board chairman, Mr Ditch Williams, the Rawa Community Schools Philosphy is to teach

“…two ways: Manyjilyjarra on the top and English on the bottom”. 

The school is dedicated to teaching in the context of two languages and two cultures: Manyjilyjarra and English/Western, with clear emphasis on ensuring our students receive broad and quality educational opportunities, not limited by geographic location, rather enriched by the maintenance, support and respect of the child’s first language, culture and rich learning environments on Martu lands.

Rawa Community School was established to ensure that Martu children continue to develop Martu language(s), culture, knowledge, and skills, while also learning to speak Standard Australian English (SAE) and develop the knowledge, capabilities and skills to confidently and successfully participate in a Western world. The aims of education at Rawa Community School have remained unchanged since the school’s foundation and it continues to strive to bring children up strong in both worlds. 

‘It’s up to younger generations now to carry on the legacy of our ancestors.’
Elder Minyawe’s story of moving back to the desert

Close community involvement in the day-to-day operations of Rawa Community School strongly supports the ideals of Martu self-determination and independence. As the original chairman of the board often remarked, at Rawa the Martu and non-Martu are “coming up together”.

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