Gawura Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Campus (St Andrew's Cathedral School Foundation)

Mission / Objective

Our mission is to break the entrenched cycle of disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children in Sydney by providing them the best opportunity for educational success, a choice of direction for the future and a foundation upon which they can build for the rest of their lives.

The objective of the programme is enable our Gawura students to achieve educational outcomes equal to (or better than) their non-Indigenous counterparts. Gawura is a unique Kindergarten to Year 6 Day School Education Programme for disadvantaged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Sydney.

Developed in collaboration with members of the local Redfern Aboriginal Community, Gawura is St Andrew's response to addressing the disparity in educational outcomes for Indigenous youth. Gawura, now firmly entrenched into the fabric of St Andrew's Cathedral School offers a multi-stage classroom with high teacher/student ratios, focusing on literacy and numeracy development in a culturally enriching environment. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Isander cultures are celebrated and incorporated into the teaching program. The students participate in regular drama classes, music and sport with their peers across the school from Kindergarten to Year 12. Close collaboration with parents and families is critical to the success of this program and to the continued engagement of the students.

On graduating from Gawura, all our students are offered scholarships to St Andrew's Cathedral School to complete their secondary education.

Beneficiary Group

Disadvantaged Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children in Sydney.

Projects in Progress

We currently have 39 students on scholarship at Gawura. 22 of those students reside within our Gawura Campus (Kindergarten to Year 6) and 16 students in our Gawura Secondary Programme. St Andrew's Cathedral School aims to be supporting 50 day students within the next three years.

CEO

Dr John Collier , Head of School, St Andrew's Cathedral School

Dr John Collier, Dip. Ed (Sydney University), Dip. Bibl. St (Moore College), Ed. D. (UWS) FACE, MACEL Doctoral dissertation: The Development of Culture, Ethos and Leadership Structures in Secondary Schools.

Head of School, St Andrew's Cathedral School - January 2010 to present,

Principal, St Paul's Grammar School, Penrith - June 1997 – January 2010.

Foundation Principal, Thomas Reddall High School, Ambarvale 1991- June 1997

Concurrently

Chair since November 2004 AHISA Academic Committee, representing the independent sector liaison with (and lobbying of) the NSW Board of Studies on issues of curriculum and assessment. • Convenor Headmasters Conference (HMC) Educational Research Group • Vice-chairman ISA (Independent Sporting Association), 2002-2003 and from 2009, • Member Anglican Education Commission (since 1993) of Sydney Diocese. • Member, Association of Independent Schools Languages Committee, 2000-2005. • Member, AIS Professional Development Committee 2009- • Awarded Fellowship of Australian College of Educators, 2005. • Nominated by Chair, past Chair and former Council member John Lambert for national leadership award 2005.

Board Members

St Andrew's Cathedral School Foundation:

Mr Peter Warne, Chair

Directors

Mrs Catherine Grant
Mr Robert Laurie
Mr Rodger Powell

Dr John Collier (Head of School)
 Mr Graeme Kightley (Deputy Head of School)
Mrs Vicki Fraser (Head of Marketing & Development)
Mr John Cross, Chief Operating Officer
 

St Andrew’s Cathedral School Council:

The Archbishop (President), the Most Reverend Dr Peter Jensen
The Dean of Sydney, the Very Reverend Phillip Jensen
The Reverend Dr Colin Bale (Chairman)
The Reverend Bob Cameron
Mrs Catherine Grant
The Reverend Ted Brush
Mr Jim Davis
Mr Ian Hammond (Chairman of Finance and Administration Committee)
Mr Ray Jarratt (Chairman of Strategy and Vision Committee)
Mr John Scott
Dr Jillian Wheeler
Pastor Ray Minniecon
Mr Alastair MacGibbon
Dr Ben Waterhouse

ABN

16 001 943 826

Year Established

2007

Tax Deductible

Yes

Wills and Bequests

Information on our Bequest programme can be found on our website at www.gawura.nsw.edu.au

General Donations

General Donations can be made securely through our website. Please refer to our 'Support Us' - 'Make A Donation' link on our website at www.gawura.nsw.edu.au i.e. http://www.gawura.nsw.edu.au/support_us/make_a_donation 

Due to limited Government funding, any donation, no matter how large or small is extremely valuable to us.

However, if you are interested in following the journey of a student and supporting them financially for part or all of their school life, some funding options for you may include:

1. One year scholarship (Kindy to Year 6) = $8,000*; 3 year commitment = $24,000; 6 year commitment: $48,000

2. One year scholarship (Year 7 - Yr 12) = $22,000*; 3 year commitment = $66,000; 6 year commitment: $132K

* scholarship fees are an approximation and subject to change

Volunteering

Volunteers (both from within and outside the School community) play an integral role at Gawura through a number of areas:

• Community fundraising

• Tutoring & mentoring students through Gawura Secondary Students' Homework Club

• Classroom Reading Programme - Gawura Kindergarten to Year 6

If you wish to become a volunteer please contact Lucy Crook, LCrook@sacs.nsw.edu.au or phone (02) 9286 9500

Other support

Other ways you may be able to help Gawura:

• In-Kind Support (Goods or Services)

• Fundraising (Hold an event or assist us)

• Sponsor-A-Day (for $1 a day, support our students while dedicating a day in the calendar year to someone or something special) - for more information visit http://www.gawura.nsw.edu.au/support_us/sponsor_a_day 

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