Learning on Country: Our Year 12s Embrace the Punmu Immersion

July 3, 2025

When a group of Santa Maria College students and staff head north to the remote community of Punmu, they carry more than backpacks and supplies. They take with them a willingness to learn, to serve and to grow alongside a community that generously welcomes them year after year.

Strengthening Cultural Awareness and Connection

The Punmu Immersion is one of our most treasured service experiences, built on a foundation of respect, trust and genuine relationships. Over the years, our connection with the Rawa Community School and the wider Punmu Community has deepened, creating a sense of anticipation each time our students arrive.

As Punmu Coordinator Lucas Francis shared, “There is always a buzz when the students of Rawa Community School hear the Santa Maria girls are coming.” This year, our students were even greeted at the Punmu sign by local children, a small but powerful symbol of the bond we have built together.

Tenille, Sienna and Olivia shared, “Our relationship with the Punmu community strengthened significantly during this trip. Every day we felt the hospitable nature of the entire Punmu community, especially the children and staff which strengthened our bond with them.”

Serving with Heart and Hands

Throughout the week, our students rolled up their sleeves and jumped right in. They balanced hard work with laughter, tackling gardening, mural painting, classroom support and even a spring clean at Rawa Springs.

As Isla, Bella and Alivia reflected, “Everyone showed great teamwork and put in a huge effort to tidy the area which wasn’t an easy task… It was a proud moment seeing how our teamwork, determination, and positive attitudes made a difference.”

Moments like this are where our College value of Service shines through – real, tangible actions that support the community while nurturing our own sense of purpose.

A True Cultural Exchange

The immersion is also about stepping out of daily comforts and embracing a new way of life. Sleeping in tents under starlit skies, cooking kangaroo tail, learning Martu stories and language, these experiences leave a mark that lasts far beyond a week away.

Alice, Isabelle and Grace captured it beautifully: “The night we spent at the bottom of Punmu Hill was challenging but rewarding… Learning about their culture and beliefs around the campfire at night are memories that will always stick with us.”

The students’ reflections remind us that cultural understanding is not just taught, it is lived. It happens around a campfire, with paintbrushes in hand, or during a simple game of basketball with local kids.

Building Student Attributes for Life

Every part of the Punmu experience helps build skills like resilience, adaptability, compassion and collaboration. Students face new challenges with grace and curiosity, working together and supporting each other through it all. As Isabel, Paige and Emma put it, “Coming from such a fast-paced, busy lifestyle, being able to slow down and appreciate what we have has been so beneficial.”

These lessons extend far beyond the classroom, shaping the kind of Mercy women who will go on to lead, serve and advocate for others.

A Lasting Impact

Lucas summed it up: “It is an absolute privilege for staff and students to be a part of something that provides both service and has a lasting impact on our students.”

It’s a privilege that is returned tenfold, as our students come home with a deeper sense of gratitude, respect for our First Nations peoples and a real understanding of the power of connection.

CulturalExchange, Featured, FirstNationsConnection, LearningonCountry, MercyValuesinAction, PunmuImmersion, RAWACommunitySchool, SantaMariaCollegeService, ServiceLearning, StudentReflections

Author: Santa Maria College
Santa Maria College is a vibrant girls school with a growing local presence and reputation. Our Mission is to educate young Mercy women who act with courage and compassion to enrich our world. Santa Maria College is located in Attadale in Western Australia, 16 km from the Perth CBD. We offer a Catholic education for girls in Years 5 – 12 and have 1300 students, including 152 boarders.