For many years, Carey students have been travelling to the Robinson River community on Garawa Country in the Northern Territory to connect with the staff and students of the Robinson River School, a small remote school just south of the Gulf of Carpentaria.
Over 300 staff and students have been a part of the journey and, over the years, we have watched Robinson River and Carey students grow into adults and take a piece of the experience and connection into their lives beyond school. Along the journey, we have also had Carey staff living in Robinson River for extended periods, working with the school and supporting students to come to Melbourne for further educational opportunities.
The Robinson River experience offers a unique opportunity for students from different walks of life to come together, fostering understanding and appreciation. In 2023, as in previous years, the ‘Carey Mob’ reflected powerfully that the transformative trip to the Robinson River community emphasised the significance of forging connections and deepening our understanding of First Nations cultures, ways of seeing our world and sense of joy in family and Country. Our students build strong, lifelong friendships on this trip; one student explained that one of the most beautiful qualities of true friendship is to understand and to be understood.
The trust, excitement and ongoing connection that has been forged over many years is a pillar of the program. After three years of not being able to be in community due to COVID-19, it was beautiful to watch the warmth of the welcome we received. It was clear that both the Carey and Robinson River communities had missed each other. We were greeted with enthusiasm and great excitement, immediately sharing stories of past trips that spanned generations of students through the Robinson River School. We spent time around the fire discussing the excitement of being back in community and the deep connection they maintained with their school and land.
A key aspect of the impact for the Robinson River School is the encouragement and belief in the impact of education and supporting the school to help build learning pathways for the Robinson River students. Our kids model a sense of joy for learning through playing, listening, sharing and laughing with the students, making school fun and meaningful, helping to show the power of education in building a sense of self and success.
'Just as it is impossible to fully wash the red dust from clothes on our return to Melbourne, it is also impossible to completely return to being the same people when the trip concludes.'
But, despite our impact, it becomes clear very quickly that we learn more from the Rob Mob and their community than they do from us. The connections our students build certainly allows them to put into perspective how lucky they are and their responsibility to be advocates and allies for First Nations Australians. We learn there is room for improvement in our society and how we treat each other, our elders and the planet, and how we see each other, build trust and could slow down and listen a little more. It is always illuminating to see how, in a community like Robinson River, the focus is on relationships, family and Country and not the materialistic objects that are so valued in our lifestyles.
Visiting Robinson River as a culmination of the Year 9 Indigenous Studies subject is a powerful opportunity for personal growth, cultural understanding and cultivating a sense of being part of something much bigger. Many students who have been part of the experience go on to study Indigenous Studies and related subjects at university, volunteer in remote communities, support Melbourne-based First Nations programs and strengthen their commitment to social outreach in their life beyond Carey. The stories told, lived and shared help bridge the gap between different worlds and foster a deeper understanding of the diverse tapestry that is humanity. The experience is filled with respect, reciprocity and a commitment to preserving and celebrating the richness of First Nations cultures and what it means to be Australian.
Just as it is impossible to fully wash the red dust from clothes on our return to Melbourne, it is also impossible to completely return to being the same people when the trip concludes. The connection with the Rob Mob and the remote experience helps to awaken a deeper insight. Country has many stories to tell, messages to understand and lessons to learn. To hear them, the students work hard to be quiet in mind, body and spirit: the learning doesn’t need to be yelled, it simply needs to be felt. On Garawa land, amongst the squeals of games, joy, fun and learning, there are also quiet whispers, reflections that can be heard a little clearer as the earth breathes more easily and turns a little slower.
It seems that being on Country, using a First Nations pedagogy and focussing on outreach helps our students be calmer, more attentive and more confident. The Robinson River program is one of many experiences throughout the Carey journey that helps our students grow into people who see kindness, connection and respect as the key to making a difference in the world. The red dust that still lingers is a constant reminder of the pride we have that we live in a country with people who have been continuously connected to the land for at least 60,000 years – and we still have so much to learn from this wisdom.
Michael Nelson
Head of First Nations Partnerships
First published in Torch Winter 2024
