Miss Briggs recently took on a part-time position at the school as an Aboriginal support worker.
It’s a role her mother, Debbie Flower-Briggs, held when Miss Briggs was a child.
And it’s not the only connection her family has with the school.
Each day she’s on campus she gets to walk past a mural created by her late father Leo Briggs in the courtyard behind the administration office.
Miss Briggs was also a student at the school from 2004 to 2009.
‘‘It’s great to be able to come back to my school,’’ she said.
‘‘I was the indigenous education worker at the Deniliquin Aboriginal Lands Council before I left to start my family — I have two children, Kyah, 2, and Kayden, 1.
‘‘When this job came up, it was perfect.
‘‘It’s fantastic that my family is part of the indigenous community, and that my children will continue to be a part of this Catholic community and faith.’’
As Aboriginal education worker, Miss Briggs’ main role is to support the indigenous students at the school.
But as an assistant to the classroom teacher, she will provide support to any child within the school who needs it.
‘‘I will work mainly in the classroom. I don’t want to take indigenous students out of the classroom environment, I want to make sure they remain included.
‘‘In coming weeks though, I will look at organising a cultural education class out of the classroom one afternoon a fortnight.
‘‘There is so much stigma around culture, especially now with what is happening around the world, so part of my role is also supporting teachers when they are teaching about the Aboriginal culture.
‘‘I can also outsource any questions from students or staff to other organisations, like the Deniliquin Aboriginal Lands Council or the Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre.’’
Miss Briggs also hopes to share her own experiences with the students to support them in their future choices.
She said that includes pursuing further education.
‘‘After St Michael’s School I went to boarding school after receiving an indigenous scholarship to study at Kinross Wolaroi School in Orange.
‘‘I would be happy to provide guidance to anyone who wished to go down the same path.’’
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