Wingara Student Leadership Day

The 2022 AISNSW Wingara Student Leadership event was held on Monday 12 September at Western Sydney University, Parramatta City Campus where 120 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from across 25 schools engaged in workshops and talks to strengthen their understanding of identity, cultural connections, sense of leadership and post-school pathways.

Students and their accompanying teachers were joined by Uncle Greg Simms,  the Pathways to Dreaming team from Western Sydney University, Theresa Ardler from Gweagal Cultural Connections and AISNSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education senior consultant Roz Thomas, as they navigated a day of learning, listening and engaging with their peers.

In the evening, AISNSW and Western Sydney University partnered to host a networking dinner for students and teachers. During the dinner, students heard from WSU alumni Stephanie Swannell, who spoke of her journey through education and into university, along with highlighting the importance of taking on opportunities that develop leadership pathways and career aspirations. 

Students then heard from a panel of incredible Aboriginal leaders – Cliff Lyons (Bennelong Energy Services), Trent Fernando (Comfort Hill Cattle), William Dumas (Pacific Coast Christian School) and Jess Oehm (WSU), who shared their different educational pathways and the importance of maintaining connection to community and culture.

140 students and accompanying staff from 20 Independent Schools across New South Wales recently gathered for the 2023 AISNSW Wingara Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Leadership Day at Western Sydney University.