Connection to Country

Millowl is the Bunurong name for Phillip Island. It is part of the Country recognised as being the traditional land and waters of the Bunurong People and is steeped in cultural history dating back tens of thousands of years. 

Phillip Island was part of the homelands of the Yalluk Bulluk clan of the Bunurong People people for many thousands of years before European exploration of the area began. The Bunurong People were members of the Kulin nation of Aboriginal people. The Bunurong People called the island "Millowl".

*This information is cited from the Phillip Island and District Historical Society website.

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land the Bunurong people of the Kulin nation, who walked upon and cared for the lands upon which we are located and we acknowledge the continued deep spiritual attachment and relationship of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to this country. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

leavesleaves 4uniform

At Our Lady Star of the Sea, we hold the care, safety and wellbeing of children and young people as a central and fundamental responsibility of our school. Our commitment is drawn from, and inherent to, the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ, with love, justice and the sanctity of each human person at the heart of the gospel.

Our Lady Star of the Sea upholds the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to a culturally safe and inclusive education, with high expectations for every child.

At Our Lady Star of the Sea, we are committed to fostering a deeper understanding, respect, and celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, and perspectives. As a FIRE Carrier school, our students, staff and community representatives share a passion for learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history and are committed to sharing this knowledge and promoting Reconciliation within the school and into the school community. 

We believe that education plays a vital role in reconciliation and in building a future that values truth, equity, and unity. As a Catholic school, we are guided by the principles of dignity, justice, and compassion, and we recognise the importance of embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and knowledge across all areas of learning.

Our commitment includes:

  • Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in the curriculum in authentic and meaningful ways

  • Creating opportunities for students to learn about and engage with local Indigenous culture, language, and history

  • Building respectful relationships with local Traditional Owners and communities

  • Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families in their learning and wellbeing

  • Promoting cultural safety, awareness, and ongoing staff development

We walk together with First Nations peoples in the spirit of reconciliation and shared responsibility for a more just and inclusive Australia.

*Image painted for OLSS by Bunurong woman Auntie Heather Kennedy
Explanation of Painting by Auntie Heather Kennedy
"The artwork with the turtles, stingrays, dolphins and crabs represents the marine life all swimming living in harmony and respecting each other's differences.
The bottom orange circles represent the land and the blue and green circles represent the sky.
The middle section: The four circles represent all different communities coming together and meeting at the main meeting place in the centre which represents the Our Lady Star of the Sea school community; families, staff and people from all different cultural backgrounds coming together with the same goal.
Bunjil the Eagle, who is our spiritual guide and protector for Aboriginal people holds the cross that symbolises hope, resilience, acceptance, survival and adaptability.
The footprints symbolize people travelling from one community to another, being welcomed by community elders and our ancestral elders who are our story tellers and mentors, who guide and protect us throughout our life journey handing down knowledge and stories.
The small white circles symbolise the ripples of knowledge. Like the ripples in the water we continue to leaarn and pass on our knowledge throughout our life journey and into the next generation.
I have tried to tell the story of hope, resilience and inclusion that I feel is the core of what Our Lady Star of the Sea School and staff represent."