Forming Partnerships

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Wayne Kelly's story

Here in Beagle Bay, it was hard at the start because we didn't have a tutor but then Sister Sheila came along and she's been great. She's still here now [2003]. That first course helped me a lot in improving my writing and speaking and that sort of thing.

The degree course was harder. I thought I was ready for it by that time but still it was a lot of hard work! Eventually I graduated and was lucky enough to get a job here. At first I had Year 1 and 2 and now I've got Kindy and Prep. I think I'm the only Aboriginal pre-primary teacher around. I've got a Certificate in Early Childhood now as well.

I'm pushing the ATAs here to do some study. I come from somewhere else but this is their home and I think it's great if they can get qualified and teach here. Mary [O'Reeri] has already made it. My goal for the school is to have all Aboriginal teachers. As is it now, there's three of us but others are coming along.

I'm not sure what I'll be doing down the track. But I'm happy to be teaching here, in an Aboriginal school, for now. I mean, living with these kids and having them in the community, having them next door to me, I've seen them grow. The kids in the high school now, I had them in my class when I first got here, so they've gone right through the whole system with me in the school. That's great. I think I can be useful to them.

I do a lot of organising around here and when Gerard [Tonti-Filippini, Principal] is away I take more responsibility. It seems to come naturally… I see something that needs organising and I do it.

But in a way it's hard because some people want me to go further, to be a Principal or something. As an Aboriginal teacher there's added pressure anyway but right now I just want to keep doing what I'm doing.