Kindergarten students at Berinba recently embarked on a rich cultural and artistic journey — all from the comfort of their classroom.
Thanks to a special virtual excursion to the National Portrait Gallery, our youngest learners were treated to an interactive 45-minute session guided by renowned educator and media personality Shelley Ware, alongside a Gallery educator.
The session celebrated this year’s NAIDOC Week theme: The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy. Through a carefully curated selection of portraits, Shelley Ware — a proud Yankunytjatjara, Kokatha and Wirangu woman — shared stories, reflections and creative activities designed to deepen students’ understanding of First Nations cultures and histories.
Ware’s passion for story-telling and education shone throughout the session, as she helped our students connect with portraits of inspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, while encouraging them to think, move, draw and respond with creativity and empathy.
The first portrait students explored was Lowitja O’Donoghue (2006) by Robert Hannaford AM. As they examined the strength captured in the image, students were asked to show — using just their bodies — how they would represent strength. It was a powerful moment of physical storytelling and connection.
Next, students viewed Ngalim-Ngalimbooroo Ngagenbye (2018) by Shirley Purdie, a stunning depiction of place and Country. Inspired by this work, the children reflected on their own favourite local places and created drawings to represent these special connections — from rivers and hills to backyards and playgrounds.
The session concluded with a look at Albert and Vincent (2024) by acclaimed artist Vincent Namatjira OAM. Here, students were invited to explore artistic techniques, noticing the colours, brushstrokes and styles used in the portrait. They discussed what they saw and how it made them feel — an impressive show of art appreciation from our youngest learners.
Shelley Ware, well known for her work on The Marngrook Footy Show, The Outer Sanctum podcast, and Broad Radio, brought a unique blend of cultural knowledge, teaching experience, and engaging storytelling. Her dedication to embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into classrooms was truly inspiring for both students and teachers. This virtual experience was not only a wonderful celebration of art, culture and identity, but it also encouraged meaningful conversations and sparked a curiosity that extended beyond the classroom.
Many students even mentioned that they’d love to visit the National Portrait Gallery during the up-coming school holidays — a perfect way to continue learning as a family. At Berinba, we’re proud to offer these enriching opportunities that help shape our students into thoughtful, culturally aware learners ready to be part of The Next Generation.
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