You Can’t Be What You Can’t See: Karly’s Mentoring Journey at Concordia

Seeing culture reflected in the school gate

Choosing a school involves more than subjects and test scores. For many families, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, it is about finding a place where children will be known, their stories will be heard, and their culture will be treated with genuine respect. Parents often look for their values to be reflected from the moment they walk through the school gate.

At Concordia Lutheran College, the NAIDOC theme, "You can’t be what you can’t see", underpins an approach to education in Toowoomba that highlights the importance of visible, respected First Nations role models. As a K, 12 Christian school, the College states that it is committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures throughout the year, not only during NAIDOC Week.

This focus is expressed through the work of the College’s First Nations coach and mentor, Karly. Her role involves supporting students, partnering with families, and guiding staff as the school continues its reconciliation journey.

Meet Karly: First Nations Coach, Mentor and Role Model

When the College first spoke with Karly about joining Concordia, she shared how family, Elders, and community members encouraged her to stand strong in her identity. Those early experiences shaped her understanding of the importance of passing on cultural knowledge, listening with respect, and walking alongside young people as they explore who they are.

Karly has spent much of her working life with children and teenagers. Before working in a school setting, she was involved in roles that focused on:

• Supporting young people in community programs
• Building connections between services and families
• Encouraging pride in culture and Country
• Creating safe spaces for honest, open conversations

Her path into education developed from this work. Through study and experience with different age groups, she observed the impact that school can have and sought to be present where children spend much of their time. Joining Concordia as a First Nations coach and mentor provided that opportunity.

Karly’s role is embedded in everyday College life across different campuses and year levels. Her work includes:

• Checking in with students in class, at break times, and in the boarding community
• Supporting staff as they plan learning that includes First Nations perspectives
• Providing cultural guidance when the College sets priorities and programs
• Staying closely connected with local community voices and Elders

Through these connections, Karly supports deeper listening and more considered action in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education in Toowoomba.

What Representation Means for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students

For many First Nations students, walking into school and seeing a proud First Nations woman in a leadership and mentoring role can influence how the school day feels. It can send a message of belonging and recognition.

Karly offers a calm, culturally safe space where students can yarn about:

• Culture and identity, especially as they grow and their questions change
• School challenges, friendships, and how to handle conflict
• Navigating home, community, and school expectations
• Their hopes for the future and the steps that lead there

Her mentoring is both practical and relational. Together with students, she works on:

• Setting realistic goals for learning and personal growth
• Building confidence to participate in class or try new activities
• Supporting attendance and engagement on challenging days
• Preparing for transitions, such as moving from primary to secondary or into senior years

Karly also maintains close connections with families. She understands community responsibilities and cultural priorities and recognizes that every family has its own story. Families are able to talk with someone who:

• Understands their context
• Can explain school processes in clear, respectful ways
• Will support them if issues need to be raised
• Keeps the student’s wellbeing central to conversations

When students see their family and Karly working together, it can help build trust and encourage persistence after setbacks or when facing new challenges.

Enriching Learning for All Students Through First Nations Leadership

While Karly’s role is particularly significant for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, her impact extends to all classrooms. Representation and leadership by First Nations staff can strengthen learning by grounding content about First Nations histories and cultures in lived experience.

Teachers at Concordia invite Karly into lessons to:

• Share stories and perspectives that support curriculum topics
• Co-teach units that include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content
• Guide respectful language and cultural protocols in the classroom
• Help students distinguish between genuine curiosity and stereotypes

Cultural activities and yarning circles are another aspect of her work. In these spaces, students are encouraged to:

• Listen deeply without rushing to respond
• Ask questions in respectful ways
• Reflect on what they have learned previously and what they are learning now
• Recognize that First Nations knowledge is current, practical, and valuable

For non-Indigenous students, these experiences can broaden understanding. They may begin to:

• See First Nations people in leadership, not only in historical contexts
• Understand culture as living and ongoing
• Consider their own role in reconciliation as classmates, friends, and future community members

When all students learn together from First Nations leaders, it can help shape the broader culture of the College.

NAIDOC, Everyday Practice and Concordia’s Reconciliation Work

NAIDOC Week is a significant time at Concordia. With Karly’s guidance, the College aims for events to be led by First Nations voices, grounded in local connections, and inclusive of families and Elders. Activities are planned to be appropriate for different ages, from Kindergarten to senior students.

Karly’s involvement supports a connection between NAIDOC Week and ongoing practice. The week links with what students engage with across the year, including:

• Curriculum experiences that include First Nations perspectives
• House activities and College events that acknowledge Country and culture
• Chapels and devotions that reflect on reconciliation, respect, and community
• Boarding life, where many students live and learn together every day

This work sits within the College’s broader reconciliation journey, including its Reconciliation Action Plan and partnerships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Staff continue to learn alongside students, with Karly offering insight and feedback as practice develops.

By including First Nations perspectives as an everyday part of College life, the aim is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to feel that their cultures and stories are part of the school community.

Inviting Families Into the Story of “You Can’t Be What You Can’t See”

The phrase "You can’t be what you can’t see" is central to Karly’s role. When students see a proud First Nations woman in a visible role at school, they see their culture acknowledged and respected, and they may more readily imagine a range of future pathways.

Families are encouraged to be part of this work by:

• Attending NAIDOC events, assemblies, and cultural activities
• Joining yarning opportunities where experiences and hopes can be shared
• Partnering with the College in supporting students through key milestones

Choosing a school like Concordia Lutheran College can involve weighing relationships, pastoral care, and culturally responsive mentoring alongside academic learning. Through roles such as Karly’s, the College seeks to create an environment where every child can envisage a future that includes them, their culture, and their gifts throughout the year.

Discover How Quality Education Can Shape Your Child’s Future

If you are exploring education in Toowoomba, we invite you to see how Concordia Lutheran College can support your child’s growth in both learning and character. Our team is ready to talk through your goals, answer your questions, and help you understand the pathways available. To discuss enrollment options or arrange a conversation with our staff, please contact us today.