Two Aboriginal women who were last year recognised for excellence in areas of recent study are now sharing their skills and experience in the Catholic Education WA system.
Marika Councillor and Terri Golding have worked as Aboriginal Teaching Assistants (ATAs) in Catholic schools previously, and have been recipients of CEWA Aboriginal Teaching Assistant Scholarships.
Marika completed a Certificate III in Education Support last year through Polytechnic West, which is working in collaboration with CEWA to provide the training for current ATAs in Catholic schools.
Marika was also the recipient of the 2015 PolyTechnic West Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year Award, as well as the Geof Gale Medal for best overall student.
Receiving the Geof Gale Medal also qualified her to progress to the WA Training Awards.
She is currently working as an Aboriginal Teaching Assistant at Clontarf Aboriginal College.
Terri began working as a counsellor at Clontarf this year, after completing a Counselling degree through The University of Notre Dame in 2015.
She is also a counsellor at St Clare’s School in Lathlain which, along with Clontarf, is one of CEWA’s CARE (Curriculum and Re-Engagement) schools.
Terri was presented with the University’s 2015 Counselling Community Award at an awards night this year, after she created and worked in the University’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student Support role, and presented to Masters students and students abroad on Counselling and Aboriginal People.