- More than 60 WA schools receive Partnership Acceptance Learning Sharing grants
- Program aims to promote Aboriginal understanding, connections and reconciliation
- First round of recipients to share $258,521 in grants
Aboriginal cultural understanding is being embraced in more classrooms across Western Australia, with cultural initiatives receiving support through the Cook Government's Partnership Acceptance Learning Sharing (PALS) program.
PALS encourages WA schools to develop projects promoting and advancing reconciliation in local communities, and foster further understanding of Aboriginal cultures, achievements and histories in the classroom.
Sixty-one schools have been awarded funding through the 2025 Term 1 PALS round, with recipients sharing in $258,521 in grants.
The program, administered by the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism and Sport, seeks to foster respect for diversity, promote the value of Aboriginal perspectives, and support the ongoing journey toward healing and reconciliation.
These initiatives help students, teachers, and school communities build a stronger understanding of Aboriginal peoples' experiences and cultures, which is vital to recognising our shared history and moving forward together.
All WA primary and secondary schools as well as Department of Education-funded kindergartens are eligible to apply for up to $5,000. Categories include arts, community relationships, connecting to country and culture, inclusive environments, history, and language.
Recipients of the 2025 Term 1 PALS funding round include:
Gascoyne
- Useless Loop Primary School - Acknowledgement of Country 3D Design
Goldfields-Esperance
- Castletown Primary School - Esperance Combined Schools NAIDOC celebrations
- Hopetoun Primary School - Connecting to Culture and Country
Great Southern
- Nyabing Primary School - Building understanding of culture in rural communities together
Kimberley
- Broome North Primary School - Naidoc Week 2025 Celebration
- Broome Senior High School - Warlidany Yagarrjin - We are expert hunters
- Cable Beach Primary School - Cable Beach Primary School's NAIDOC Week 2025
- East Kimberley College - EKC Firepit and Yarning Circle
Mid West
- Bluff Point Primary School - NAIDOC
- Rangeway Primary School - Dreamtime Mural
Peel
- Pinjarra Senior High School - 2025NAIDOC Week
Perth
- All Saints' College Inc - Stories at River School - Dyoondalup
- Anne Hamersley Primary School - Kaarla Kaatijin
- Balcatta Senior High School - Cultural Workshop Program
- Balga Senior High School - Balka Doyintj-Doyintj-ak NAIDOC (NAIDOC Balga Coming Together)
- Bannister Creek Primary School - Culturally Responsive Futures Program
- Beaconsfield Primary School - Term 3 and 4 Reconciliation Activities
- Beaumaris Primary School - Connecting to Country and Culture
- Bramfield Park Primary School - Partnerships for Cultural Learning
- Burns Beach Primary School - NAIDOC Week Celebrations
- Butler College - Cultural dance workshop - 10 sessions
- Caralee Community School - NAIDOC Week Activities at CCS
- Cloverdale Primary School - Our Story
- Como Secondary College - Painting - On Country, in Como "Rivers run"
- Connolly Primary School - Connecting culture through Aboriginal artistic expressions
- Dalkeith Primary School - Young Yarnz
- Darling Range Sports College - Noongar Artwork and Workshop
- Dayton Primary School - Kaarla Kaatijin
- Girrawheen Senior High School - NAIDOC Recognition
- Greenmount Primary School - Yirra Yaakin
- Guildford Grammar School - Boodja Bidi Performance Group - NAIDOC Week 2025
- Halidon Primary School - Bush Tucker Garden
- Heathridge Primary School - 2025 NAIDOC Celebrations Week: Honouring Culture, Community, and Connection to Country
- High Wycombe Primary School - NAIDOC Community Celebration
- Jandakot Primary School - Fostering Cultural Awareness and Reconciliation
- John Butler Primary College - Bush Tucker Garden with Derek Nannup
- Kerry Street Community School - Tree Planting and Bush Classroom
- Kingsway Christian College - NAIDOC Activities
- Kinross Primary School - Kinross School Song
- Koorana Primary School - School Mural - Connection to Country
- Makybe Rise Primary School - Kaarla Kaatijin
- Methodist Ladies' College - 2025 Indigenous Dance Group
- North Fremantle Primary School - Koolbardi Mosaic Mural
- North Morley Primary School - Reconnecting to Country Camp
- Orelia Primary School - NAIDOC 2025/Community Artist Project
- Padbury Primary School - Indigenous Community Garden and Design
- Queens Park Primary School - Aboriginal Survival Technology
- Riverton Education Support Centre - Bush Tucker Garden and Cultural Incursion
- Riverton Primary School - Bridging Cultures Program
- Saint Patrick's Primary School Fremantle - Community Relationships through Ngalak Nidja
- St Francis Xavier Catholic School Armadale - Yarning Circle Completion
- The Beehive Montessori School Inc - Aboriginal Circle Art Project
- Upper Swan Primary School - Bushtucker Garden
- Wanneroo Primary School - Yirra Yaakin Theatre - Kaarla Kaatijin
- Wellard Village Primary School - Faction Art Project
- Yarralinka Primary School - Yirra Yaakin Performance - Kaarla Kaatijin
Pilbara
- Baler Primary School - Sea of Culture through Dance
- Tambrey Primary School - Tambrey PS NAIDOC Festival
South West
- Our Lady of Lourdes School - Wardandi Gift
- Our Lady of the Cape Primary School - Growing Wadandi Cultural Custodians
- South Bunbury Primary School - Native Garden Planting
For more information on the PALS program and recipients funded from this round: https://www.cits.wa.gov.au
As stated by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch:
"Thanks to the Cook Government, over $250,000 in funding has been made available to ensure students and local communities can increase their understanding and education of Aboriginal cultures.
"Gaining a deeper insight into the cultures, achievements and histories of Aboriginal people helps school communities promote reconciliation and work together towards creating a unified Australia."
As stated by Education Minister Sabine Winton:
"The PALS program empowers schools to bring Aboriginal culture into the classroom and our government is delighted to support schools integrating these perspectives into their students' learning experiences.
"Congratulations to the 61 schools that have been awarded funding through this program which is making a difference in classrooms across the State."
