Australian School

• Located in Orange, regional NSW
• Founded in 1886
• Students range from 5-18 years old

Overseas Partner

George Brown High School, R abaul, East New Britain (United Church in Papua New Guinea).

Partner engagement

Kinross Wolaroi School has been working in partnership with George Brown High School in PNG for two years. T hey are working together on adapting George Brown to a new outcomes based education framework, an initiative of the PNG government aimed to improve the standard of education for students throughout the country.

In July 2010, two teachers from Kinross, Kate Stehr and Murial Holmes, and teachers George Brown came together in Rabaul to openly discuss the issues that George Brown needed to address in order to adapt to this style of teaching in the PNG context.

The workshop enabled the strengths from both schools to be brought together. The teachers from Kinross brought their experience of working with outcomes based education and interactive learning techniques in Australia. The teachers from George Brown brought their passion for providing their students with the best educational opportunities and an understanding of their students’ array of unique cultural backgrounds.

The teachers from George Brown were pleased that they were able to openly share and discuss the challenges they faced, including accessing resources, using equipment in the often humid and hot weather and the things they need to address before adapting to the new framework.

Betty Musalan, Principal of George Brown High School was glad that they “were able to work equals” with the Kinross staff.

“They just fitted in,” said Betty.

Kate Stehr and Murial Holmes noted, “Although it was a short visit, we feel that we connected with many staff made meaningful ties with the school. The GBHS staff were very friendly, accommodating and open to discussion on new teaching strategies. Being told by Betty (the Principal) that we were, “one of them” was one of the highlights of our trip.”