Marrung is the Wemba Wemba word for the Murray Cypress pine tree, representing branches of education and knowledge. We thank the Wemba Wemba people for allowing the use of their language in the naming of this plan.
Our vision
Victoria will be a state where:
- the rich and thriving culture, knowledge and experience of our First Nations peoples are celebrated by all Victorians
- our universal service systems are inclusive, responsive and respectful of Koorie people at every stage of their learning and development journey
- every Koorie person achieves their potential, succeeds in life, and feels strong in their cultural identity.
"The Victorian Government, through the Department of Education and Training, has worked with the Victorian Koorie community to develop Marrung. The Government has listened and has heard. Marrung sets out a 10 year vision and identifies the significant actions its achievement. From this plan there will be some ground-breaking change."
Geraldine Atkinson
President
Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated
Working in partnership with Koorie Victorians
Consistent with the principle of self-determination, Marrung has been developed with:
- Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated
- Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
- Victorian Community Controlled Health Organisation.
Strong partnerships with these organisations and with the Koorie community will be the foundation for the implementation and governance of Marrung.
Priority areas and actions
To achieve its vision, Marrung encompasses actions that aim to:
- Create a positive climate for learning and development where services demonstrate the highest levels of respect and inclusion and, as a result, Koorie children and learners of all ages feel strong in their identity within all services.
- Build community engagement in learning and development so that, through partnership and collaboration, services work together with Koorie people to find innovative ways to improve outcomes in local communities.
- Build a culture of professional leadership where success for Koorie Victorians is core business for all educational leaders.
Achieve excellence in teaching, learning and development at all stages so that:
- young Koorie children are on track in their health, development and well-being, and their early learning experience sets them up for life
- Koorie students engage fully throughout their schooling years and gain the knowledge and skills to excel at Year 12 or its equivalent
- Koorie learners transition successfully into further education and employment, and have opportunities to access education at all stages of life.
Governance
Annual ministerial roundtable
An annual ministerial Roundtable will be established to monitor the progress of Marrung against key targets and measures, and to identify and respond to emerging issues and priorities.
Alignment with other government initiatives
Marrung aligns with broader state and national strategies and frameworks designed to improve the lives of Koorie Victorians and their communities. These strategies and frameworks inform the targets and measures under Marrung.
- Victorian Aboriginal Affairs Framework 2018-2023
- Roadmap for reform: strong families, safe children
- Victorian Aboriginal Economic Strategy 2013-2020
- Council of Australian Governments - Closing the Gap targets
Documents
- Marrung, Aboriginal Education Plan 2016-2026 (PDF, 1MB)
- Marrung, Aboriginal Education Plan 2016-2026 (DOCX, 73KB)
- Marrung - fold-out poster (PDF, 289KB)
- Year 12 student scholarships factsheet 2020-2021 (DOCX, 381KB)
Self-determination in education reform
Watch the Strengthening Aboriginal Self-Determination in Education video on Vimeo.
A campfire is a place where everyone has a spot to sit; to listen, share and connect with each other. It is a place for storytelling and deep listening.
The Victorian Government has funded the Department of Education and Training (the Department) to bring Koorie communities, young people and schools together to listen, share and connect about self-determination for Koorie people in education.
There will be opportunities for the Koorie community and schools to host their own campfire conversations. The purpose of the campfires, storytelling and deep listening is to:
- provide Koorie communities opportunities to define self-determination in education.
- explore possibilities for how self-determination could and should look in education.
- build and strengthen partnerships between Koorie communities and schools.
- highlight the benefits of self-determination for whole school communities.
- improve attendance, engagement and achievement for Koorie learners.
- develop a range of changes to improve agency and success for Koorie people in schools.
The following discussion paper and accompanying documents are a stimulus for the conversations community and schools will have at their campfires.
- Current data-early childhood (DOCX, 365KB)
- Current data-participation and inclusion (DOCX, 171KB)
- Current data-population and dispersal (DOCX, 593KB)
- Current programs and funding supports (DOCX, 307KB)
- History of partnership with VAEAI (DOCX, 361KB)
For further information about how to participate, please email marrung@education.vic.gov.au.
For educators
We acknowledge and pay respect to Elders and all Victorian Aboriginal communities. We honour and respect Traditional Owners, past and present, and value the rich culture and history of the First Peoples of this land.
Marrung education scholarships
Marrung education scholarships support Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students to complete years 11 and 12. There are 30 scholarships of $5,000 each ($2,500 per year over two years).
The scholarships recognise students who demonstrate a high potential to succeed in their chosen pathway.
Who can apply
Marrung education scholarships are for students who are:
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- completing year 10 at a Victorian government school
- planning on completing year 11 and 12 at a Victorian government school.
Application dates
Applications for the Marrung education scholarships are open Monday 2 October 2023 and close Monday 30 October 2023.
How to apply
To apply for a Marrung education scholarship, eligible students need to:
- Download and complete the Marrung education scholarship application form
- Applications open Monday 2 October 2023. Submit the completed application form to the Koorie Outcomes Division, DET by Monday 30 October 2023.
- Email applications to marrung@education.vic.gov.au with the email subject: Marrung Scholarships [insert full name of applicant and school].
Selection process
A selection panel made up of representatives from the department and the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI) reviews applications and selects the 20 successful applicants. Selection is based on the following criteria:
- involvement in the Aboriginal community
- year 10 results
- school reports
- potential to succeed in a chosen pathway
- references from school and community representatives.
More information
Read more about the scholarships including how to get help in completing the application, the school's role and the use of the funds in the Marrung scholarships guidelines (DOCX, 1MB).
Contact marrung@education.vic.gov.au.
Secretary's Marrung Awards
The Secretary's Marrung Awards are an action of the department's Aboriginal Employment Plan 2019-2026. The awards provide an opportunity to recognise good practice in Aboriginal education and inclusion. Through recognition of practices, projects and innovations that promote self-determination and inclusion from within the Department of Education we inspire others and celebrate success.
The awards celebrate the unique knowledge and skills that Aboriginal staff bring to the department, and the work of allies who walk alongside, to create better educational outcomes for Aboriginal students. This may be in roles that focus on communications, policy, program delivery, student support, teaching, allied health, or leadership.
The inaugural awards were held in June 2022.
Visit Secretary's Marrung Awards to learn about the inspiring winners.
Contact marrung@education.vic.gov.au.
Promoting participation and engagement for Koorie learners in VET
The Department, in partnership with VAEAI, has authored a discussion paper that outlines our plans to implement Marrung action 8a:
“Develop options for a revised approach to supporting Koorie learners engage and participate successfully in VET [including] through the redesign of the existing Koorie VET workforce”
Visit Engage Victoria to read and respond to the discussion paper, and to find out how to engage in a regional consultation near you.
Contact us
Koorie Outcomes Division, marrung@edumail.vic.gov.au.
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