Rosalyn Thomas – Indigenous Education & Boarding Australia

Rosalyn Thomas, Director

Rosalyn Thomas is a descendant of the Dunghutti nation and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Consultant for the Association of Independent Schools of NSW. Joining Indigenous Education & Boarding Australia in 2020, Rosalyn supports NSW independent schools to create an education environment that is culturally safe and responsive to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to be proud of their identity and strive for their educational goals.

Rosalyn currently leads the Waratah Project involving 25 NSW and ACT schools to strengthen their engagement with their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families. The project supports schools to develop and embed context specific strategies to improve literacy, numeracy and other outcomes through keeping the student at the centre. A key component of this project is supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students living and learning in boarding schools.

With 10 years’ experience teaching in schools across Western Sydney in NSW, Rosalyn has taught in both mainstream and special education, along with holding key school leadership and executive positions.

Rosalyn holds a Master of Educational Leadership and was awarded the NSW Quality Teaching Award in 2009 for her work in Special Education with Aboriginal students and their families.

Through joining the IEBA Board, Rosalyn hopes to share her learnings and experience with other educators and networks across the country to support the transformation of both the education system and boarding structures to be responsive and inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, families and communities. Through listening and learning to the diverse voices of our communities, we have an opportunity to strengthen education pathways for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, leading to an education system that is respectful and understanding of the knowledges, histories, connections and languages of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across our country.