Gamardi develops a Place-based Vehicle Policy

On Monday our Gamardi Elders, families, young people and staff came together for a powerful co-design workshop to shape our new Gamardi School Vehicle Policy, a policy created by community, for community.

Together we yarned, mapped real-life scenarios, shared stories and made clear rules that keep everyone safe while supporting:

• Learning on Country

• Student wellbeing

• School nutrition

• Community safety

• Teaching and cultural trips

• Essential school operations

Our motorcars belong to the children and the homeland, and the rules we created reflect Gamardi ways of teaching, caring, moving and keeping each other safe.

In nutshell we agreed:

·         Safety first — seatbelts for everyone, no kids after dark, no risky roads

·         Country is the teacher — the car supports bush trips, pandanus and fire wood collection, tucker, fishing and cultural learning

·         Clear communication — all after-hours or weekend trips need permission and must be for school or wellbeing

·         Compassion + common sense — emergencies are handled together with Elders, clinic and leadership

·         Shared responsibility — everyone helps clean and look after the vehicle

·         Funeral and Ceremony support— we will draft a separate policy that will detail the way school vehicles can support these significant events. 

This is a living policy. We will trial it in Term 1 and come back together to review what worked and what needs adjusting.

A huge thank you to all Elders, parents, young people and staff who shared their voices and helped shape a policy grounded in Gamardi culture, safety and community leadership.

Gamardi leads the way. Country guides the learning. Children remain at the centre.