Our College
Celebrating Indigenous Culture at PSC
Pakenham Secondary College embraces the culture, history, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, celebrating important events such as Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week, and our own Indigenous Cultural Day. We are also thrilled to have Indigenous Artist in Residence, Samantha Richards, who mentors our students.
Samantha has been with Pakenham Secondary College since the beginning of 2024. A descendant of the Wurundjeri and Dja Dja Wurrung tribes of the Melbourne and Bendigo regions, she has been educating our students about traditional Wurundjeri symbols, telling Creation and Dreamtime stories, and sharing insightful knowledge of Indigenous culture, including her expertise in Indigenous flora. Samantha has also taught weaving, woodwork practices, and created Indigenous digital art using Procreate.
In 2025, Samantha expanded her program to further share her vast knowledge of Indigenous culture. She instructed students on sustainability in food, continued the Indigenous art program - including assisting our Year 10 students with the beautiful mosaics that appear on the cover of our 2025 Yearbook and are placed by our indigenous garden beds), and lead our students in the celebration of Pakenham Secondary College’s Indigenous Cultural Day.
Sam also painted a stunning mural in our gymnasium, using traditional symbols to tell the stories of the Indigenous athletes who inspire our four Houses: Ash Barty (Red), Cathy Freeman (Yellow), Eddie Betts (Blue) and Patty Mills (Green).
In 2026, we are once again enjoying our close working relationship with Sam Richards.
This year, our Indigenous Student Leader is Raine Williams, a proud descendant of the Wurundjeri people of the Melbourne region. Raine has spoken eloquently at our whole-school assemblies in the first half of the year, including our recent ANZAC Day assembly, where she delivered a personally written Acknowledgement of Country.
Your Future, Our Focus Program
Our Indigenous students recently attended the 'Your Future, Our Focus' program at The William Cooper Institute, which offers Koorie students the chance to explore higher education at Monash University. The event featured cultural and educational activities, allowing students to connect with peers and ambassadors while learning about diverse academic programs.
PSC Indigenous Cultural Day
In August, we hosted our annual Indigenous Cultural Day, led by Sam Richards, our Indigenous Artist in Residence, for our Indigenous students. The day began with a general education session on Victorian culture, followed by an introduction to traditional symbols and art techniques. Students then created stories using these symbols, culminating in the creation of a beautiful artwork now displayed in our foyer.
Our Koorie Captain -
Raine Williams
Raine is passionate about being the school’s Koorie Captain to serve as a strong representative and advocate for their community. They aim to inspire other Indigenous students, encouraging them to embrace their cultural heritage and empowering them to pursue their educational goals, showing that anything is possible through determination and support.
Cardinia Network Marrung Steering Committee
Pakenham Secondary College is proud to be part of the Cardinia Network Marrung Steering Committee.
The Cardinia Network Marrung Steering Committee (CNMSC) is dedicated to improving Aboriginal education, resulting in more inclusive teaching practices across Cardinia’s school network and better wellbeing and educational outcomes for all Koorie students in the region.
The CNMSC consists of a committed group of school leaders from Cardinia’s 26 schools. Working collaboratively in a Community of Practice to implement the Marrung Aboriginal Education Plan 2016–2026, they have successfully built capacity across the network, fostering a more connected, safe, and inclusive environment for Koorie children and their families.
Through strengthening the links between Koorie communities and schools, the CNMSC has integrated Aboriginal cultural activities and perspectives into the curriculum, informed by the voices of Koorie students and parents. This collective effort has led to significant improvements in the Cardinia region, with Koorie students showing increased attendance, academic achievement, and greater engagement in school events and cultural activities.
The Cardinia Network Marrung Steering Committee were the winners of the Outstanding Koorie Education Award at the Victorian Education Excellence Awards in 2024.
