Thursday 29 May – Friday 30 May 2025
Principals – Wednesday from 1.30 pm
Registrations Are Now Open
Santa Maria College is pleased to be hosting the AMSSA Staff Conference for 2025 and we look forward to warmly welcoming you to our College next year.
This conference focuses on the importance of relationships and connection for high performing leaders, teachers and learners and in our everyday lives.
Keynotes, workshops and practical opportunities seek to link elements of faith, education, science and art to develop a best-practice model for growing and sustaining thriving and connected Mercy school communities today and in the future.
Please refer to the Program Overview below. We look forward to sharing the full program with you early next year.
If you have any queries regarding the conference or registration, please contact the Conference Manager, Rebecca Kinsella:
[email protected]
Wantili (Warntili, Canning Stock Route Well 25)
©Kuru Gladys Bidu/Copyright Agency, 2024
“Wantili is my place, where I was born. It’s a place where everyone was living – it’s all of their ngurra (home). It’s the Jukurrpa (Dreaming) of that place. All those claypans, a place where everyone comes together for ceremony and gatherings, all meeting with different families. I went there with my aunt [Jakayu Biljabu] (dec.) and my sister [Kumpaya Girgirba] – they told me the story of where I was born, in pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) times. We walked all over the place, I was just a little one.”
Wantili, a large round jurnu (soak) and linyji (claypan) near Well 25 on the Canning Stock Route. The area is dominated by claypans surrounded by tuwa (sandhills). Nyilangkurr, a prominent yapu (hill) is located on the edge of the claypan. Following rains the typically dry claypans are filled with water, with the overflow from nearby waterholes flowing to Wantili. At that time, Wantili becomes an important place for obtaining fresh water for drinking and bathing. Wantili is significant for the fact that at this site Kartujarra, Manyjilyjarra, Putijarra and Warnman people would all come together for ceremonies during the pujiman (traditional, desert dwelling) era. Many jiwa (stones used by women for grinding seeds) from these times can still be found there today.
Find out more about Gladys Kuru Bidu and Martumili here
Santa Maria College acknowledges that the land we live and work on is Whadjuk country and that the Whadjuk Noongar people are the traditional owners and custodians who have a rich social, spiritual, and historical connection to this country, which is as strong today as it was in the past.