We are excited to announce that Marri Mittigar has been named as one of The Educator's 5 Star Innovative Schools.
The Educator’s 5-Star Innovative Schools 2025 are shaping the future of education by breaking the mould of traditional teaching and enabling their students to flourish with cutting-edge initiatives.
This report recognises the schools at the forefront of change and innovation. Entries were open to all educational professionals who believe their school is pioneering a new direction in education.
From teaching approaches to learning spaces and curriculum design, the report looks at schools reshaping the future of education.
2025 marks the first full year of Marri Mittigar’s existence. Established in May 2024 by Barker College, this unique school for children from a refugee background, is made up of many nationalities, ages and experiences.
It is a space where diversity is celebrated, and first language and culture valued and fostered. All children spend part of the week immersed in their first language so they learn the songs, the poems, the literature and history of their original countries. Strong literacy in the first language carries across to the second and subsequent languages.
Although originating from all corners of the world, staff, students and their families are unified in the purpose of education.
The Barker community have been intricately involved since the beginning in planning, setting up the physical environment, working bees, Christmas celebrations, morning teas, donations of food, expertise, furniture, housing support and many other ways.
Many Barker students have become involved in the School’s activities and given regular time to teach violin, Latin, play football, arrange craft activities, to name a few areas.
Remarkably, an average of 58 hours a week of volunteer labour has been given to Marri Mittigar. Support has been given in areas such as literacy and numeracy, chess, catering for morning teas and other functions, working bees, medical and dental advice, housing support.
As the families find their feet in Australia, they start to contribute their energy and unique skills to the school – from cooking and sharing recipes from their home countries, to flower arranging.
The unique nature of the school as the first special assistance school for children of refugee experience, has attracted many visitors, including Ambassador Waissi from Afghanistan, who joined recently joined the Persian class and chatted to the Dari and Farsi-speaking children.