WORKING WITH COMMUNITY The Yule Brook College Experience

WORKING WITH COMMUNITY The Yule Brook College Experience Prepared by Jacquie Taylor, Dare to Lead consultant S. A. Art work: Les Giles

Context: • Yule Brook College is a year 8 -10 middle school near Perth • In 2001 the school began the process of working with their local community to develop an ‘Aboriginal Community Agreement’ • Since the Community Agreement was developed, (and sustained) there has been a significant improvement in attendance and graduation of Aboriginal students

The ‘Yule Brook College Aboriginal Community Agreement’ has three sections • Basic Principles and understandings • Yule Brook College Commitment: to its Aboriginal students and community • Aboriginal Community Commitment: to their children and the school

Using the resource: It provides supportive ideas for leaders on how to: • Review school data • Engage with your community • Establish a culturally attractive and educationally relevant agenda • Develop communication and marketing strategies • Develop and sustain an ‘Agreement’

Group Discussion following viewing DVD: What desirable outcomes were achieved for the different groups/stake-holders? How were these achieved? What were the main strategies employed? What would you consider to be essential knowledge that needed to be shared between the groups involved?

What personal values and attitudes do you think were required from the ‘designated’ school leader/Principal to embark upon such a project and to achieve such positive outcomes What support did the Principal need? Are you able to compile a personal profile for the Yule Brook College Principal who initiated the contract with the Community? (Personal skills, professional knowledge, management and planning skills, values stance)

In School groups: Explore the following If you were wanting to emulate the success experienced by Yule Brook College what goals and targets would you set? What strategies would you consider essential? Who would need to be involved? What resources would you need? How long would your time frame be? If you were to examine Yule Brook College’s documents what would you expect to see included that have ensured ongoing success even with a change of leadership? (Plans, Policies, Procedures, Minutes, Agendas etc)