'It makes you feel proud to be Aboriginal': Namadgi School embraces new Indigenous inspired uniform

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at Namadgi School worked alongside Canberra Aboriginal design business Darkie Design to design the new t-shirts and hoodies incorporating the school colours with traditional storytelling elements.

Year 9 student Tyreece Lewis said the uniform was "a good way to represent our people". William Ervin, also in year 9, said, "it makes you feel proud to be Aboriginal".

After constantly finding it challenging to get students in their uniform, Namadgi School principal Tiffany Mahon said the Aboriginal education officer asked the students "if you had your own Indigenous inspired uniform, would you stay in uniform?"

The students have been proud to wear their new uniform since it was created.

"A whole bunch of people came together and we voted on which designs were the best with [Darkie Design owner Dion Devow]," year 9 student Shannon Williams said.

"[There is] a meeting place to represent the school, with various pathways leading to a good education and meeting new people, followed by an eagle, representing the Ngunnawal land," Tyreece said.

Shannon said: "on the front it says 'One Mob' meaning that we're all together at the school and one big community".

Darkie Design owner Dion Devow said the uniform was created to include everybody and share something with the whole school.

"The end result was just beautiful. I am so honored and proud to have been a part of that," Mr Devow said.

Students Tyreece and Dakota Lewis presented the newly designed uniform to the school board last Thursday. The board approved the new uniform unanimously.

Executive teacher Bea Hale said she was very proud of the students who worked on the project and presented it to the board.

"They were very nervous and it took a lot of courage for them to do that, and it was very important to them to build that student voice and be role models to the younger kids".

The Namadgi School then shared a photo of the design on Facebook, leading to an overwhelming response of love and support from proud parents and staff.

"We've had nearly 40,000 views on the photo, we've never had anything like that before and it's all 100 per cent positive with 100 per cent support from the board and P&C," Mrs Mahon said.

The uniform is being optionally rolled out to years 6 to 10 and is being considered to be incorporated for younger years.

"Our year 5s have designed and developed their own uniform with Indigenous designs for them as a cohort," Mrs Mahon said.

The children learnt about team work skills and built upon their listening skills, taking initiative with decision making to create their new uniforms.

"It was an educational project representing advocacy for positive change," Mrs Mahon said.