Program overview
Connecting Students to Country, Culture, and community.
This immersive Dharug Culture program offers students a meaningful and engaging opportunity to explore the rich heritage of the Dharug people, the traditional custodians of the Western Sydney region for over 22,000 years. Through this program, students gain a deep appreciation of the strong connection Dharug culture holds to Country, community, and the spirituality of the land.
Designed as a series of stage-based activities, the program can be delivered as a full-day experience or as individual sessions to suit your school’s timetable and learning needs. This flexible approach allows educators to tailor the program to different age groups and learning contexts, ensuring all students can engage meaningfully with the content.
Throughout the program, students will:
- Learn about the importance of Country and place to the Dharug nation, understanding how land, water, and environment shape cultural identity and spiritual connections.
- Explore Dharug language, appreciating its role in storytelling, communication, and cultural continuity.
- Discover traditional tools used by the Dharug people, gaining insight into their daily life, survival skills, and craftsmanship.
- Engage with Dharug art and music, experiencing cultural expression through creative practices and performance.
- This program is designed to foster respect, awareness, and pride in Aboriginal culture while building students’ knowledge of local Indigenous heritage. Through hands-on activities, storytelling, and cultural sharing, students develop empathy and a stronger connection to the history and living culture of the Dharug people.
Whether you choose a single session or a comprehensive full-day program, the Dharug Culture program enriches your students’ learning journeys by bringing the enduring stories and traditions of the Dharug nation to life.
Cross curriculum priorities
Science Elaborations
- Considering how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples use natural materials for different purposes, such as tools, clothing and shelter, based on their properties.
- Investigating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ knowledge and understanding of the physical conditions necessary for survival of certain plants and animals in the environment
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
- Discussing how modern approaches to fire ecology in Australia are being informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ traditional ecological knowledge and fire management practices.
- Investigating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ knowledge of reversible processes, such as the application of adhesives, and of irreversible processes, such as the use of fuels for torches.
| 1 |
Storytelling Students experience the use of ochre and traditional symbols for storytelling and then share their stories orally with the class. |
| 2 |
Weapons and tools Learn about Aboriginal Culture by exploring some special treasures, their stories and uses. |
| 3 |
Traditional Indigenous games Have fun and discover how to play games that have been used for thousands of years. |
| 4 |
Traditional fire making Can you make fire using traditional techniques? Students learn all about traditional fire use and try to make fire using the hand drill method and natural materials. |
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Sample of a 1 group program For multiple groups/classes, the same activities are run on an alternating schedule Times and the timetable will vary depending on the schools bell times, student numbers, class numbers etc. |
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| 8:00 |
Brewongle staff arrive and set up All activities will need an appropriate undercover outdoor teaching area (or oval) |
| 9:00 |
Acknowledgement of Country Learn to say My name is in Dharug language |
| 9:10 | Traditional fire making |
| 10:00 | Weapons and tools |
| 10:50 | RECESS |
| 11:15 | Traditional Indigenous games |
| 12:05 | Storytelling |
| 12:55 | FAREWELL |
| 1:00 | LUNCH |
| Brewongle staff pack up and depart | |
| Location |
Booking high school All activities will need an appropriate undercover outdoor teaching area (or oval) |
| Transport | Nil required |
| Program costs | Incursion costs |
| Student numbers |
Dependent on outdoor teaching areas available and Brewongle staffing Maximum 30 students per class |
| Supporting teachers and staff | Minimum requirement is one teacher per attending class |
| Program start and finish times |
Brewongle arrival time is usually 8 am - departure time is approximately 1:30 pm * school bell times to be provided when confirming incursion booking |
| Medical and welfare notifications |
Using the Brewongle medical and welfare form (sent with the confirmation email), inform Brewongle staff of any medical conditions or special requirements prior to the visit This program can be adapted for teachers and students with specific mobility requirements |
| Adverse weather |
Visit our visitor information page to view our weather trigger points for program changes On days where the weather is unsuitable, a Brewongle staff member will contact the organising teacher to discuss alternative arrangements |
| Booking and cancellation policy requirements |
Brewongle booking and cancellation policy Student attendance numbers confirmed 7 days prior to visit Cancellation fees may apply |
| Inclusive learning support | Visit our inclusive education website for further excursion support materials |
| Activity social stories | Coming soon! |
Booking enquiries
Get in touch to ask a question, plan a visit or find out more about what we offer