Celebrating Successes of the Parent and Community Engagement Program at Fregon Anangu School

The Parent and Community Engagement Program (PaCE) at Fregon Anangu School in remote Far North West South Australia has successfully connected Indigenous families and the school community. PaCE fosters partnerships between parents, elders, volunteers, and students to improve educational outcomes through creative and culturally meaningful activities. Recent workshops in spinning, weaving, and painting have generated enthusiasm and commitment, paving the way for ongoing community involvement. This post highlights the successes of PaCE at Fregon Anangu School and its positive impact.

A student carefully creates intricate patterns using a black marker around Pitjantjatjara language text, preparing the artwork for digital colouring.

In a two-week intensive workshop led by Ann Ramzan and Alexander Dunton, community members, elders, volunteers, and students learned traditional spinning, weaving, and painting techniques. These workshops fostered knowledge sharing across generations, with elders passing on cultural practices and younger participants gaining pride in their heritage and confidence in their abilities.

Students engage in a digital art session using Adobe Photoshop to explore colour adjustments, linking their work to paint volume and pricing in a numeracy-related project.

This approach fostered a respectful learning environment where everyone participated. The workshops promoted open communication and collaboration, strengthening the school’s ties with the community. Engaging hands-on activities made learning relevant and enjoyable, boosting participation and enthusiasm.

Artists collaboratively trace intricate designs onto a primed marine-ply board using a projector for guidance.

Key outcomes from the program include:

• Increased parental involvement in school activities and decision-making

• Opportunities for elders to share cultural knowledge with students

• Creation of flexible learning environments that respect Indigenous traditions

• A sense of accomplishment and pride among all participants

Students worked with Community members and elders and learnt skills including how to hold and steady a brush, how to mix paint, and how to create clean and sharp edges.

Schools that actively involve families and communities see academic and social benefits for students. The success of the program at Fregon shows the importance of culturally responsive education that respects Indigenous voices. Below is a video highlights showreel from this first PaCE workshop.

Creating sustainable and flexible programs for the future.

The PaCE workshops aimed to establish a sustainable program that could continue beyond the initial sessions. The community’s enthusiasm and commitment made this achievable. The flexible nature of the workshops allowed the program to adapt to community needs and interests, ensuring ongoing relevance. In 2011, the PaCE program resumed, offering more opportunities for parents and community members to engage positively with the school.

The Importance of Sharing and Learning Together

At the heart of the PaCE program is the belief that education is most effective when it happens in a positive and inclusive environment. The workshops have shown that sharing knowledge between generations builds respect and understanding. Elders feel valued when they can contribute their wisdom, and young people gain confidence when they see their culture reflected in their learning. This approach also helps break down barriers between the school and community. When families are involved and feel welcome, students are more likely to succeed. The program’s success demonstrates how schools can create spaces where everyone’s voice matters.

Looking Ahead: Continuing the Journey

The achievements of the PaCE program at Fregon Anangu School offer a clear example of how community-driven initiatives can improve education for Indigenous students. The workshops have laid a strong foundation for ongoing engagement and cultural learning.

Moving forward, it will be important to:

• Keep building trust and collaboration between the school and community

• Provide opportunities for parents and elders to participate in school life

• Adapt programs to meet changing community needs and interests

Years after the PaCE workshops were completed in 2010 and 2011, it was heart-warming to see the continuation of strong School, Community, and Art Centre connections through the inspired work of "Nintintjaku - Teaching, Showing, Passing Down' (A Visual Arts and Literacy collaborative project featuring the Fregon Anangu School, Kaltjiti Art Centre and the Fregon Community) Keeping the Arts going strong for future generations!