A mural with pride of place in the James Meehan High School playground is serving as a reminder to students about the importance of healthy expression and connecting with your culture.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from James Meehan High and Curran and Guise Public Schools at Macquarie Fields teamed up to take part in Youth Solutions’ ARTucation project.
The mural was the result of this Aboriginal specific project that included drug and alcohol education, with teachings about healthy expression, particularly through art.
Through ARTucation, the school students were able to plan and create the indigenous art inspired mural within James Meehan High School, under the guidance of Macarthur Aboriginal artist Danielle Mate Sullivan, aka DJMate.
In addition to learning Aboriginal art techniques, the students were able to connect with their own Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and contribute a piece to the mural which represented what they had discovered.
The Youth Solutions project, which received $10,000 funding this year through the Champions of the West initiative, aims to build the knowledge, skills and resilience of young indigenous people in Macarthur and Wingecarribee.
Youth Solutions health promotion co-ordinator Lauren Ognenovski, who is the project lead for ARTucation, said she was thrilled with the result of the James Meehan High School mural.
[social_quote duplicate=”no” align=”default”]“It was fantastic to see the students from these three schools join forces to learn together, celebrate their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and create something positive and meaningful for their school communities to connect with for years to come,” Ms Ognenovski said.[/social_quote]
“Youth Solutions is really proud of the ARTucation project and the opportunities it provides for our young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to boost their knowledge, skills and resilience and make a positive connection with their culture.”
“We are very grateful to DJMate for partnering with us to deliver this project, as well as the schools which passionately take part.
“We are also very thankful to all of those who are involved in the Champions of West awards, because the support has really helped this project to take off.”
James Meehan High School deputy principal Bianca Marlin was also thrilled with the result the project had in her school community.
“The students got out of it a real connection with their cultural heritage,’’ Ms Marlin said.
“They also gained an understanding of the significance of the different parts of the mural and how it relates to them individually.
“Our non-Indigenous students have been able to ask what the mural means and how it was created and that has also given those students involved a chance to share the mural and a piece of their heritage with the entire school community.
“It’s wonderful to have this great, big, bright mural which can be celebrated by the whole school,’’ Ms Marlin said.
Students from the three schools involved in creating the mural at James Meehan High School also revelled in the chance to perfect their art skills and learn about their culture.
“Not only is this mural representing our culture, but it is also representing who we are to the rest of the school,” says 14 year old James Meehan High student Taleisha.
“I learnt a lot from Danielle and Lauren and have been doing more painting at home since.”
Curran Public School’s Natalya, 10, also enjoyed the experience. “I liked doing all the painting and I learned a lot about our culture,” she said.
The ARTucation project is a creative arts and health promotion program run by Youth Solutions. For more information about the project or to make a booking, contact Youth Solutions on 02 4623 2319 or email info@youthsolutions.com.au.
♦ Youth Solutions is a health promotion and youth drug and alcohol prevention charity. For more information about Youth Solutions, or for drug and alcohol education, information, referral, or the current activities of Youth Solutions phone 4628 2319, email info@youthsolutions.com.au or visit their website.
