Shepherdson College

Shepherdson College is a school of 700 students located in Galiwin’ku on Elcho Island in the North-east of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. We offer a comprehensive bilingual education program from preschool to primary. Senior secondary have the opportunity to do VET courses and complete the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training.

Shepherdson College is one of nine bilingual schools in the Northern Territory. The Yolŋu languages of Djambarrpuyŋu, Gupapuyŋu, Gälpu, Gumatj, Wangurri, Warramiri, Rirratjiŋu, Golumala, Ḏäṯiwuy and Ŋaymil are just some of the first languages of the Galiwin’ku community. Our bilingual program has a strong learning focus on literacy and numeracy through the two languages of Djambarrpuyŋu and English. Literacy in Djambarrpuyŋu (Transition to Year 3) first precedes the introduction of formal English reading and writing in Year 4. Planning, delivery and assessment is facilitated by Teaching Teams. Within a Teaching Team, the classroom teacher and the Yolŋu teacher learn together through a sharing of knowledge and understanding in a rich cross-cultural teaching and learning context. Our Literature Production Centre (LPC) resources the school's bilingual program. Visit the LPC website to view our resources and learn about Yolŋu language(s) and culture and Shepherdson College at www.shepherdsoncollegelpc.com.au
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Shepherdson College has a school garden run by our dedicated students.

We are a 'Learning on Country' school and aim to raise our children 'Both-ways' Yolŋu and Balanda focusing on traditional lore to bring meaning to the national curriculum and English lessons. We also use the Talking Namba framework to help Yolŋu children bridge the gap between traditional numeracy and western Maths.

In the primary school we also focus on the Walker Learning approach and in upper primary to secondary we focus on the PM Reading program.

Galiwin’ku is a large indigenous community of well over 2000 people with most people here holding to traditional ways of hunting living, art and law.