Walford Anglican School for Girls is an inclusive community committed to the work of reconciliation. We acknowledge and respect the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the ancestral lands on which we live, learn and lead. We recognise and value the significance and continuing contribution of Kaurna culture, language, stories, teachings and relationship to yarta (land).

Walford’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Committee is Chaired by Principal Dr Deborah Netolicky and made up of a range of students and staff from across our E-12 school. In recent years, the RAP Committee has initiated actions such as installing three new flagpoles to proudly fly the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Australian flags; an ELC cultural mentoring program with Uncle Ivan Copley; engaging local Aboriginal artists as artists in residence and for art commissions; developing a more personalised and intentional approach to Acknowledgements of Country; broadening partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations; launching new scholarship opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students; exploring cultural immersion experiences for staff and students including those on Country; and developing cultural responsiveness learning opportunities for students and staff.

On Thursday 20 February, Walford launched its 2025-2026 Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), developed by the RAP Committee and Executive Leadership Team, with the support of Kate Mount (Specialist Reconciliation Consultant) and Sara Bingapore (Indigenous Secondary Student Mentor) from the Association of Independent Schools South Australia. The launch opened with a smoking ceremony and Welcome to Country from Kaurna Elder Uncle John Lochowiak. Dr Netolicky spoke to the School about the collaborative development of the Plan and its focus on meaningful, authentic and ongoing partnerships and dialogue with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Dr Netolicky discussed how Walford’s School value of Community is aligned with the Kaurna concept of yara, which encourages us to engage in reconciliation with reciprocity, respect, and generosity of spirit. Mrs Murphy outlined Walford’s journey of reconciliation, Mrs Brooks shared the Early Learning Centre’s cultural mentoring project with Uncle Ivan Copley, and students Keira, Alys and Grace offered stories and reflections.

Walford’s vision for reconciliation is:

• To engage together—students, staff, parents and the wider community—to foster an inclusive, welcoming, culturally responsive community that honours Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This includes their unique cultures, beliefs, knowledge systems, relationship with the land, and histories held in and beyond our community.
• Grounded in our motto of Virtute et Veritate (Moral Courage and Truth), and through embodiment of our values of Courage, Commitment, Community and Growth, we collectively seek to understand, celebrate, and walk alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through deep listening, meaningful engagement, and authentic collaboration.
• We acknowledge that this work is continuous and requires intentional thought and action, and ongoing reflection, learning and growth.

Part of the development of Walford’s 2025-2026 RAP is a commissioned painting by a collective of senior and emerging APY artists: Sandra Pumani, Nyunmiti Burton, Megan Lyons, Josina Pumani, Yaritji Heffernan and Nurina Burton.

Titled ‘Tjungungku Iwara Palyani’ (Together Making Pathways), the painting reflects Walford as a flourishing, connected and inclusive learning community that enables each student to achieve her best, her way. Artist Sandra Pumani explains that the artists “have put little symbols here to represent the girls and their teachers, coming together from all different backgrounds and communities at Walford School. We know how important education is for children, and how important teachers and schools are in shaping our kids and helping them grow into happy and healthy people. We have added lines to represent the pathways that teachers make for the kids.”

Walford’s 2025-2026 RAP represents a deep commitment to deepening our School’s engagement with and embedding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives through profound action, deep reflection and thoughtful engagement at Walford.