Wurreranginy Community, Frog Hollow, East Kimberley
Great Northern Highway
PO Box 440
KUNUNURRA WA 6743
ph: (08) 9168 7392
fax: (08) 9168 7317
e-mail:purnululu@purnululu.com.au
http://www.purnululuschool.wa.edu.au
Head of School: Dr. Libby Lee-Hammond
Chair of Governing body: Mrs Shirley Drill
Languages Taught: Kija
Purnululu School
St Stephen's Global Blogs
St Stephen's School has a partnership with Purnululu Aboriginal Independent Community School in the Kimberley area of Western Australia. This partnership has been in place since 2016.
Purnululu School is a remote independent K-10 school catering for approx. 30 students from the Wurreranginy Community. As such they are an AISWA member school.
The principal Libby Hammond and secondary teacher Mariah Dodd visited both St Stephen’s School campuses in 2021 to meet with staff and learn about opportunities for students to build connections.
St Stephen's students from both Years 5 and 9 have explored the Kimberley region in past years, as part of the school "Global" education project. These visits were interrupted by Co-vid restrictions but it is hoped they can resume in 2022.
The first group of Purnululu students will visit St Stephen's in Term 4. The students would have the chance to experience life at school in a context they have never before experienced.
“They are able to learn about different cultures and schools, develop friendships and explore local communities.” (Principal Donella Beare)
Purnululu Principal, Dr Hammond, said it would also strengthen the commitment to two-way learning at Purnululu, “which refers to our students learning both their own culture and language and the language and culture of non-Aboriginal Australia.”
The Kija Aboriginal people, who have lived here for over 20,000 years, called the area Purnululu (pronounced 'Boornoolooloo'), the Gija word for sandstone. Gija (variously spelled Kija, Kitja and Gidja) is an Aboriginal language spoken by people who live in the regions from Halls Creek to Kununurra, W.A.
Purnululu Aboriginal Community Independent School was established in 1991 to provide an educational service for the traditional owners of Purnululu National Park and adjacent lands. Purnululu Aboriginal Corporation is the governing body of the educational service. The total population of adult members represented by Purnululu Aboriginal Corporation is in excess of 400.
When Purnululu School first started there were two campuses, the main campus was situated in Wurreranginy (more commonly known as Frog Hollow) community and the second campus was set up at Kawarre, in the Purnululu National Park. Due to ongoing concerns about access to the Kawarre campus during the wet season, it was decided that students should attend only one campus in Wurreranginy community. Kawarre is now used for culture trips.