PALS

PALS is an initiative of the Department of Indigenous Affairs, in partnership with BHP Billiton that encourages young West Australians to develop projects that promote and advance Reconciliation.

Based on the core attributes of Partnership, Acceptance, Learning and Sharing, PALS encourages young people to take a leadership role in strengthening the relationships that exist in their local community between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
 
To do this, they are asked to expand their knowledge of traditional Indigenous culture and lifestyle and explore how it has been impacted over the past 200 years by external factors such as European settlement, government policies, religion, technology and education.

This new level of understanding is then used to introduce a positive change in their life and community, towards Reconciliation.

PALS projects are varied. Some take small steps and begin by creating opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to get to know each other. Others can be life-changing.
 
Schools undertaking PALS projects are encouraged to participate in the PALS Awards, which are judged in term four and announced in November at an awards ceremony.

To enter the awards, schools document their progress throughout the year using any combination of interviews, video, personal accounts, photography and written words to explain their journey and the impact it has had on their community.

Winners are those who demonstrate the positive impact of the project in the values and relationships that exist in their community. Submissions are judged in the categories of Education, Environment, Sustainable Partnerships, Health, Community Development and Arts and Culture, with schools asked to report against these outcome areas.

A survey of teachers and students participating in PALS is undertaken each year to measure the impact of the program.

Of the teachers who responded to the 2007 survey, every one said that involvement in PALS had improved the perception of Indigenous people among the students at their school, while 67 per cent said PALS had been significant in helping them with teaching Aboriginal studies.

In addition, relationships with Indigenous and non-Indigenous parents, teachers and students had improved as PALS encouraged Indigenous parents and Elders to be more involved in school life.

Students said PALS gave them a greater understanding and pride in Indigenous culture and their involvement in 2007 had left them eager to find out more.