A personal reflection

Educator story

Mona McFarlane
Aboriginal Education Officer
Hebersham PS
Dharug Cluster

Biography
Mona was born in Brewarrina and is a Kamilaroi/Muruwari woman. She worked at the Kindergarten Union Childcare Centre at Sydney University for the first 12 years of her working career whilst studying to obtain her childcare qualifications. Mona moved into a number of Community Worker roles with Carers NSW, The Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children NSW and the South Penrith Youth and Neighbourhood Services NSW just to name a few. Currently, Mona is the Aboriginal Education Officer at Hebersham Public School where she has worked for the past 7 years and has been an integral member of the Make it Count team.

Introduction
Below is Mona’s personal reflection on how the Make it Count Project has impacted upon her teaching.

What I’ve learned?

•  I had never considered Numeracy as a significant area of learning before and I am now more focussed on the areas of Mathematics learning.
•  I often used to use the ‘old ways’ of doing maths.
• I have been able to enhance the cultural knowledge and understanding of the staff members as well as develop and maintain close relationships with students and parents
•  I’ve become more confident in supporting parents and students through the preschool transition to school programs.
•  I have developed my own confidence to share my culture and the Hebersham PS story through presenting at a range of local, state and national conferences.

This inspiring story connects to:

Finding 7.1: Parents
Consider Indigenous parents’ own experiences in schooling and in learning mathematics, and build their confidence to talk positively with their children about mathematics reconciling past experiences with current aspirations.

Finding 7.2: Families
Work with Indigenous education officers as they can be critical to building strong connections, resilience and trust between schools and their communities and families. Ensure they have a central role in curriculum development.