Crimson Primary School

Abstract

Crimson Primary School is situated in the western suburbs of Sydney, a region with the largest population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia. Surrounding suburbs are home to families from many different cultures, and more than half of the student population is drawn from non-English speaking backgrounds, including recent refugees. A family centre located in a nearby public housing estate provides a base for non government services whose staff members provide support to the school community. Industrial units and large factories are located in nearby streets. New roads and motorways criss-cross the area. During the lifespan of the project there were approximately 600 enrolments, and of these, over 60 were of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. The school reported a high level of involvement in the school by the local community including in programs such as the In Class Tuition (ICT), Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme (ITAS) and Parents and Community Tutors (PACT) programs. The current Aboriginal Education Officer had been involved with Crimson School for twenty years, including as a parent, a former Aboriginal Student Support and Parent Awareness committee member, an Aboriginal Education Assistant and the current regional representative of the local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group.