St Mary’s College Broome was proud to host students and staff from Sacred Heart Highgate Primary School and Chisholm Catholic College as part of the Yadha Muru City-Country Partnership, a powerful initiative designed to build meaningful relationships, foster mutual learning, and deepen cultural understanding between metropolitan and regional schools.
Over the course of a week, four staff and four Year 4 students from Sacred Heart Highgate and six staff and 22 Year 9 students from Chisholm Catholic College engaged in a rich program of cultural and collaborative learning alongside St Mary’s staff and students.
Visiting primary students from Sacred Heart took part in a yarning circle and storytelling session, joined in shared activities with the St Mary’s STEAM Team, explored Yawuru seasons and language through classroom learning, and expressed their reflections in a specialist art class. Their visit also included excursions to local landmarks such as Walmanyjun (Cable Beach) and the Broome Historical Museum, providing further insight into Broome’s unique cultural and environmental heritage.
Chisholm Catholic College students participated in specialist workshops in art and cultural learning delivered by respected cultural leaders in the Broome community. These immersive sessions fostered insight into First Nations knowledge systems, art practices, and the living connection between people and Country. They visited local landmarks and reflected on the connection to history and stories while out on Country.
All visiting staff took part in a professional learning session on best practice in cultural teaching and awareness, hosted by St Mary’s Cultural Pillars and CEWA staff, reinforcing the commitment to culturally responsive education across all school communities.
A highlight of the visit was the On Country immersion at Crab Creek, where students and staff from all three schools spent the day together fishing, sharing food, and learning firsthand the importance of being on Country. Guided by St Mary’s students and cultural knowledge holders, the day offered a deep, lived experience of Yawuru perspectives and values.
The week also focussed on our partnerships shared project looking at the future of food and sustainability. For this all schools attended a visit to the Murringo Farms, where students learned about the importance of local food production and sustainability. Thank you to Ben Tanner and Deb Pigram for teaching the students about Kimberley Asparagus and grapes. This visit forms part of an ongoing collaborative project around the future of food, which aligns with broader goals of environmental education and cultural knowledge.
These partnerships are invaluable to all participating schools. They allow for the sharing of stories, knowledge, and experiences across cultural, geographic and educational contexts. Students grow not only in academic understanding, but also in empathy, respect, and connection. For metropolitan students, it’s a chance to experience life and learning in the Kimberley; for St Mary’s students, it’s an opportunity to be leaders, hosts and knowledge sharers. From the Chisholm students the talked about the trip allowing them to learn about “Yawuru culture and the Kimberley including the past, the culture and the connection to land”. Many stating that they would love to come back to connect with the students at St Mary’s and spend more time exploring the Kimberley.
At St Mary’s College, the visit has inspired the next stage of our learning journey. Design Thinking projects will once again roll out across classrooms, empowering students to respond to real-world issues through creativity, innovation, and collaboration. Our secondary and primary STEAM Teams are preparing for the CEWA Showcase in August, where they will present solutions focused on sustainable food systems. Building on the momentum from our cultural immersion and recent successes, we are building on our programs to further embed STEAM and design thinking across the curriculum. These projects won’t just stay on paper—they will be brought to life within our school and community, giving students the opportunity to see their ideas grow and make an impact.
We extend our thanks to our visiting schools for their enthusiastic participation, and a special thank you to Beverley and Colin (Bud) from the Yadha Muru Foundation for their attendance during this trip and for the ongoing support of this valuable partnership.
