District Contacts
In addition to the staff listed below, the Narrogin District Office also employs 15 Aboriginal Islander Education Officers.
Noongar language consultants are Kathy Yarran and Janet Collard (Noongar elders) and LOTE teachers are Aaron Ward at Katanning Primary School, Loretta McNamara at Beverley DHS, Barbara Pickett at St. Patrick PS in Katanning, and Wayne Coles at Narrogin DEO.
Erica McGuire: Manager of Aboriginal Education
Erica is a Noongar woman of the Balurdung, Wajuk and Wiilman people. She is from Brookton and has worked at Narrogin DEO since 2001. She has worked with schools, communities and businesses in Noongar country for many years and has always reflected the importance of education, culture and reconciliation within schools and communities of the district.
Erica demonstrates leadership amongst schools, communities and colleagues in the areas of:
- strategic planning,
- monitoring of programs specifically for Aboriginal students,
- management of Aboriginal Education personnel,
- coordinating interagency support,
- Early Childhood education,
- planning retention, and
- communication strategies
within the Narrogin Education District.
Erica is also the Executive Officer for the Narrogin District Aboriginal Education Advisory Council that meets once per term.
Charmaine Derschow: Coordinator Aboriginal Education
Charmaine was born in Narrogin and spent her childhood and school years in Williams, Pingelly, Boddington, Wandering and Narrogin as her parents moved for employment. Charmaine then lived up north for a number of years and got married and had a family. She lived and worked in the Mid-West region for a number of years before moving and settling in the Pilbara region, where she worked with the Department of Education for 10 years, taking on roles within the district at various times. In 2005 Charmaine returned home to Narrogin where she has strong family ties to the country and people.
She is responsible for the Aboriginal Perspectives Across Curriculum project, community/family/school liaison, curriculum programme development, career expos, leadership forums, parent forums, indigenous school committees and parents as career partners.
Wayne Coles: Aboriginal Liaison Officer
Wayne is a Noongar man of the Balurdung and Wiilman people. Wayne has spent most of his life living in the towns of Quairading, Darkan and Narrogin. Wayne began working at Narrogin District Office in 2001.
Wayne provides Noongar Language for LOTE in schools and supports cultural activities for students as well. He has responsibilities to deliver professional development, individual/school/home liaison visits, Aboriginal mentor program, attendance of Aboriginal students, and assists in the youth advantage strategy for 15 - 17 year olds.