Ngunnawal elder Aunty Tina Brown, a distant relative of Shirley Smith’s, welcomed everyone to the site.
20 May 2024
Shirley Smith High School has been officially named, with a plaque unveiled at a naming ceremony to mark the occasion.
The school opened this year in Kenny, welcoming its first cohort of year 7 students.
It will, in time, cater to up to 800 students from across east Gungahlin, providing high-quality public high school education.
The school was named after prominent activist and Wiradjuri woman Shirley Smith.
She was a founding member of many important community services in Redfern, Sydney, including the Aboriginal Medical Service, Aboriginal Legal Service, the Aboriginal Housing Company, and the Aboriginal Children’s Service.
Shirley Smith’s advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people influenced other communities to establish similar services.
The school has been designed with flexible learning in mind, and also has spaces available for use by both students and the community, including a double gymnasium, covered hard court, an oval and a multipurpose hall.
In addition to the plaque unveiling, a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony were provided by Ngunnawal elder Aunty Tina Brown – who is a distant relative of Shirley Smith’s – to officially welcome everyone to the site.
Find out more on the Shirley Smith High School website or enrol for 2025.
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