Western Cape College welcomes 20 new teachers for the 2026 school year through Remote Ready. Photo: Supplied.
Traditional blessings and Welcome to Country are ensuring incoming teachers in Weipa are prepared to build connections with students and the community in 2026.
Western Cape College welcomed 20 new staff members through its Remote Ready program last week, which equipped them with cultural knowledge and kick-started rapport with Napranum and Mapoon community leaders and Elders.
Incoming teacher Michelle Deer, who will be making the move up from Brisbane next year, said in her 24 years of working in education, she had never experienced anything like it.
“The connection with community up here is outstanding,” she said.
“We went out to Napranum, we were all introduced one by one, we had a water blessing, and then we went out to Mapoon, where they had a smoking ceremony.
“It was actually really overwhelming and just so nice.”
Ms Deer said Weipa would be her third stint in Cape York after Cooktown and Normanton. For her, feeling welcome and supported in building connections with students was key to returning.
“It just makes the transition so much easier; there’s not so many surprises for teachers, and it’s probably more likely to make them want to stay longer, because they know what to expect,” she said.
“I think people feel more comfortable, and it’ll be quicker for them to settle into the community.”
Michelle Deer is given a traditional welcome by Aunty Di Pitt at the Western Cape College Mapoon Campus. Photo: Supplied.
Alngith Traditional Owner Ernest Madua, who performed the water blessings on the Napranum Foreshore, said the ceremonies were vital in creating camaraderie between the children, teachers and community members.
“When it comes to teachers applying themselves, they have to more or less understand our ways of thinking and how we interpret things, so it’s good to make that connection,” he said.
“Our kids, they go to school, and community mentality is still a big thing, so I feel it’s important to understand and adjust how they approach kids in that conversation.
“Sorry Business, for example, is one thing that we always acknowledge with the school, that if there’s anything that’s impacting community, it’s good for the school to know, especially the teachers.”
Mr Madua said he and the Elders were happy to see the positive engagement and eagerness to learn from the teachers, and hoped they would continue to embrace the community and culture.
“I think the teachers will have an opportunity to learn more, because they’re welcome to come back at their own leisure, engage community at their own personal level, or come to the PCYC to engage with the kids in the after-school programs,” he said.
“It’s important to do that, because us First Nations people, we’re very culturally oriented, and our young ones, as much as there can be struggles at times, it’s still something for them to learn.
“The children can be successful if they apply themselves, but obviously, that comes from good guidance from their teachers who understand them, because they’re the ones moulding them for their futures.”
Alngith Traditional Owner Ernest Madua performs a water blessing on new secondary principal Jarrod Prakelt. Photo: Supplied.
