Maddington middle school Yule Brook College was recognised by the Australian Association for Pastoral Care for its specialised teaching methods on Monday, receiving the Norm Hyde Award for excellence in pastoral care in education.

A small school of less than 200, Yule Brook took out the award at the presentation at The Esplanade Hotel Fremantle over both public and private schools.

Principal Paul Billing accepted the award on the school’s behalf, and said it was a great honour and testament to the progress Yule Brook College is making.

“The award recognises a totally integrated approach where pastoral care is a part of our everyday teaching and learning program,” he said.

Yule Brook College students are going above and beyond to ensure their Football Academy has a healthy future and continues to produce quality young men from the fruitful South East suburbs of Perth. As part of their school curriculum, Academy students spend time at a local Primary school to mentor and assist indigenous boys in year’s five to seven with daily school tasks.

'Engage the community' - it's almost a mantra whenever people talk about Indigenous education. But what does it really mean? Who is this community? And what is the difference in outcomes if you really engage, rather than just paying lip-service to the idea and doing what you think is right anyway?

One community consultation model which has rapidly become regarded as best practice is that instituted by Yule Brook College, a middle school (Years 8, 9, 10) in the light industrial Perth suburb of Maddington. Last year Yule Brook won the Milton Thorne Award for an Outstanding School-Based Initiative for Aboriginal Students.