Here’s a great example of a school creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for its students and wider community. It’s from Lowanna College in the Latrobe Valley.
To mark the beginning of the new school year in 2026 and welcome new Year 7 students and their families to Lowanna College, the school was honoured to host respected local Elder Aunty Michelle Dow, who officially welcomed the cohort and led a traditional smoking ceremony. Aunty Michelle shared the significance of a Welcome to Country and explained the different ways smoking ceremonies are used within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural practices. Students were then invited to walk through the smoke before coming together to enjoy recess as a new cohort.
This event reflects Lowanna College’s ongoing commitment to inclusiveness and to creating a culturally safe and welcoming environment for Koorie students and their families. This year, the College has welcomed 17 new Koorie families, with enrolments continuing throughout the year, as Lowanna strives to be the school of choice for the local Koorie community.