Episode 20: Leading for Equity

Evelyn Carter

Welcome back to Leading for Impact in Anangu Lands Schools. I’m Evelyn Carter and, as always, I’m joined by Dan Harrison and Liam Warragul. Today we’re jumping into something at the heart of what we do—leading for equity in Anangu schools. Now, “equity” is one of those words we use a lot, but I reckon it means something a bit different here on the Anangu Lands, doesn’t it, Liam?

Liam Warragul

Yeah, absolutely, Evelyn. Equity’s not just about treating everyone the same—it’s about making sure every student gets what they actually need to thrive. And when you look around our communities, every mob, every kid, they come with their own stories, strengths, and, you know, sometimes different challenges too. So it’s really about meeting them where they’re at, not a kind of one-size-fits-all idea.

Dan Harrison

That’s so true. I always think of it like, if you just hand out the same thing to everyone, you might actually ignore those extra steps some kids need to get up to the starting line in the first place. Especially with Anangu kids—language backgrounds, remoteness, the cultural context—it all adds layers to figuring out what “fair access” really looks like. And sometimes we—well, I mean, especially when I started—I’d mix up equity and equality. I’d think, “oh, if I give everyone an iPad, that’s fair.” But that’s not really it, is it?

Evelyn Carter

No, it’s not. And you reminded me, Dan, back in our episode on wellbeing—wait, was that 16? Yeah, I think it was. We talked about how building trust and real partnerships is vital. Here, I think it’s the same with equity. You can’t just come in with a policy; you’ve got to start with yarns, with listening. That’s where you spot those gaps. And sometimes it’s not just about resources, right, Liam?

Liam Warragul

Definitely. I reckon resource allocation is much more powerful when it actually reflects the real needs that students and community have. Like, say, allocating funding for extra language support, or making sure there’s transport for excursions so every kid’s got a fair go—those little adjustments make a massive difference. But it’s gotta be guided by real needs, not just a tick-box thing.

Dan Harrison

And all that starts with understanding, well, what those needs actually are. I’ve found data can really help here—like, looking at which kids are missing school, or which families aren’t getting to events, or even, you know, who’s putting their hand up for leadership roles. Sometimes the gaps are staring us in the face, but we just sort of get used to them being the norm unless we look at things a bit closer.

Evelyn Carter

Exactly. And I love what you said about not normalising those gaps. I remember, we had a group of girls who’d never been interstae, just never set foot outside of South Australia (apart from Alice Springs). When we made it an absolute priority for them to go on an excursion interstate, not only did that build their confidence, but it sent such a strong message to the whole school: everyone gets access to opportunity here, not just the ones who shout the loudest.

Liam Warragul

It connects to curriculum too. Dan, I reckon you’ve done some of the most impressive work making learning genuinely relevant for Anangu kids. I’ve seen you bring in Elders, use local stories, bush trips and getting out on Country with elders from the community—can you talk through how that sort of culturally responsive curriculum actually supports equity?

Dan Harrison

Yeah, sure—happy to. So, you know, from what I’ve learnt, cultural responsiveness isn’t just a nice add-on. When you put Anangu knowledge and language at the centre, you’re saying to every kid: “Your world is valued here.” It’s not just about English and maths, but also about connecting learning back to Country, to community stories. It helps students see themselves in the work—gives them a reason to want to come to school, participate, and lead. And it also nudges us, as teachers, to always ask, “Who’s missing out? Whose voice haven’t we heard yet?”

Evelyn Carter

That’s so powerful. And the decision-making side of things—Liam, you always say it’s about doing things “with” the community, not “to” them. How do those leadership partnerships, especially between Anangu and Piranpa staff, shape the equity work?

Liam Warragul

Yeah, well, it can’t be said enough, I reckon—we need Anangu voices right at the centre. If we’re making decisions about student pathways, support programs, anything at all, there has to be co-leadership. Otherwise, you just miss so much context, and you might accidentally reinforce the very barriers you’re trying to break down. Plus, it’s about respect. If you ask me, the best ideas—like, say, flexible pathways for later years students, or extension programs for underrepresented kids—always come from those deep yarns with community and students.

Dan Harrison

And I’d add: review, review, review! You’ve got to keep reflecting on, “Are the kids who most need support actually getting it?” Like, don’t be afraid to look in the mirror and tweak your plan if things aren’t working. We talk about data a lot, but numbers by themselves are useless unless you’re combining them with community stories and constant feedback, yeah?

Evelyn Carter

Absolutely. So, as we start to wrap up, maybe let’s throw out a couple of the reflection questions from today? I always like to leave listeners with practical things to chew on as a team. For example, how are you noticing and addressing inequities in your school? What role does cultural responsiveness really play? And—this is a big one—how can your resource allocation be more needs-based and transparent?

Liam Warragul

Or even—what systems do you have for monitoring equity? And how are you bringing Anangu voices into those conversations and shaping new opportunities for students who might have been overlooked before?

Dan Harrison

Perfect. And just remember, it’s a journey, not a box to tick. Keep coming back to those questions, keep listening, keep reshaping what you’re doing. That’s how you build real equity. Righto, folks, that’s it from me for this episode.

Evelyn Carter

Thanks Dan, thanks Liam, and thank you to everyone listening out there. Keep leading for real impact and we’ll see you next time.

Liam Warragul

Yeah, thanks everyone, can’t wait for the next yarn. Stay strong, stay committed.

Dan Harrison

See you on the next episode, everyone. Bye!