In a first for the ACT, a new public school in the Molonglo Valley has been named after a First Nation’s woman.

Evelyn Scott School – officially named at a ceremony on Tuesday (21 June) – honours the life of First Nation’s woman and reconciliation advocate Dr Evelyn Scott (1935-2017).

Throughout her life, Dr Evelyn Scott supported the advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and women in Australia. This includes being a leading campaigner in the landmark ‘yes’ campaign for the 1967 referendum and taking on numerous leadership roles for national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander councils.

The naming ceremony also saw the unveiling of a mural created by local Ngunnawal artist Lynnice Church that is displayed on the side of the school’s gymnasium.

_{Mural by Ngunnawal artist Lynnice ‘Letty’ Church}

The Evelyn Scott School’s junior site opened in 2021, accommodating almost 690 primary school students.

Construction of the school’s senior site is now complete and will accommodate an additional 600 year 7-10 students, with enrolments now open for the 2023 school year.

The Evelyn Scott School is Canberra’s 89th public school and is the second zero emissions school in the ACT, with its design focused on sustainability.

Evelyn Scott School Principal Jackie Vaughan was delighted for the modern school to be connected to such an important figure in Australia’s history.

“It is an incredible honour to lead the first school in Canberra to be named after an Aboriginal woman,” Jackie said.

“This school is purpose-built for future-focused learning. It is a contemporary school, with open-plan architecture for 21st century learning. It provides a continuum of learning from preschool through to high school, of play, inquiry, and project-based learning.”

The ACT Government has invested $70 million in the state-of-the-art facility, which features modern learning spaces, a canteen, sporting oval and hard-courts, double gymnasium, library, out of school hours facilities and outdoor play areas.

The school’s facilities are available for community use by arrangement outside of school hours.

More information about ACT public schools is available on the ACT Education website.

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