John Pujajangka-Piyirn Catholic School

Australia Private Schools introduces John Pujajangka-Piyirn Catholic School in Halls Creek, for all your education and learning needs.

John Pujajangka-Piyirn Catholic School is situated in Mulan, close to Lake Gregory (Paruku) in the remote East Kimberley. Mulan sits roughly half way between Broome and Alice Springs, about 300 km south of Halls Creek. The closest communities are Balgo, to the East, and Billiluna, to the North. The traditional owners of the land are the Walmajarri people and in 2001 the land became Western Australia’s first Indigenous Protected Area.

The school and community were both established in 1979. The Sisters of Mercy were invited to set up the school and continued here until 1984 when a lay principal took over. The school caters for co-educational 4 year old Kindergarten children up to Year 10 and has an enrolment of around 40 students. There are currently three classes: Kindy -Year 1 (changed from K-2 after term 1 after increased numbers), Year 2 -Year 5 and Year 6 through to Year 10. With a one hundred per cent Indigenous enrolment, many of the children are transient and the attendance fluctuates a great deal throughout the year.

John Pujajangka-Piyirn Catholic School is committed to the concept of Two Way Learning that respects and fosters the traditional Aboriginal languages and culture of the area whilst also enabling children to learn Standard Australian English. This is encouraged through the school curriculum that is implemented by the teachers with the help of the Aboriginal Teaching Assistants and the community.