https://aiatsis.gov.au/education/curriculum-resources 

The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies  

 

This website shares the story of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history and provides a comprehensive wealth of information and resources for learning and teaching, including a section on locating family with a family history unit. The aim of the AIATSIS collective is to promote respect and celebration for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and culture. AIATSIS conducts research, provides advice, lead and promote collaborations, and to preserve and provide access to a national collection of knowledge and resources. The website is clear and easy to navigate with an entire section devoted to curriculum resources including books, learning materials, photographic collections and references to further learning through professional development. 

Included in the collection curated by AIATSIS are digitised versions of notebooks, diaries, letters, photographs, artwork and articles. Access to the online archives provide teachers with information on how to implement a program that is responsive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and students and supports teachers to develop an understanding and respect for Indigenous history and culture (AITSL Standard 1.4, and 2.4, 2014). Developing an understanding and deep respect using resources such as this website, assists teachers with meeting education standards, goals, and building partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and content. Teachers can access information and curriculum resources that support them in education both for and about Indigenous Australians (Price & Rogers 2019).  

There has been a growing emphasis on the importance of building knowledge and improving attitudes of Education Professionals so that the education outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students are maximised. Part of maximising education outcomes for all students is incorporating Country into the curriculum. Ensuring that children are aware of learning on and from Country (Shay & Oliver 2021). AIATSIS offers a section on Country and a downloadable guide for understanding Country and how to engage with traditional owners. Using the information and resources from AIATSIS supports teachers in educating their students in Intercultural Capability as per the Foundation Level Victorian Curriculum (VCAA, 2011) and Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world from the Early Years Learning Framework (DET 2009). 

 

https://www.narragunnawali.org.au/ 

Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education  

 

The Narragunnawali website is a free resource that promotes and offers meaningful reconciliation initiatives. The website also offers professional learning resources and curriculum resources. Included in these resources are online tools to write Reconciliation Action Plans which are a formal statement of commitment to work towards the reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the wider Australian community. The tool helps to guide schools, early learning centers, and the local community to develop and then implement a RAP. Narragunnawali provides educators with activities and information on Caring for Country, cultural competence, rights, symbols and how to integrate Indigenous perspectives in early learning environments for example. Teachers can use these perspectives to increase their understanding of reciprocity in regards to reconciliation with Indigenous people. Integrating the activities and using the curriculum resources provides a channel for learning how to bridge the gap. Writing and using Reconciliation Action Plans can support teachers to exchange information and teaching strategies with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

Curriculum resources for early learning include the topics of, Caring for Country, cultural competence, awareness and celebration of diversity, language, stories and culture. Resources like these are invaluable for educators beginning their Indigenous learning journey or looking to become more competent, as well as building an understanding of what is beneficial in an education setting. Narragunnawali supports teachers to be culturally responsive and encourages teachers to engage in continual learning and continuous improvement. It is important for Educators to communicate and interact with sensitivity with people from a range of different cultural backgrounds(Perso & Hayward 2015) 

Using this website for ongoing learning and curriculum resources links in with the AITSL standards: 1.4 and 2.4 as it provides information on supporting and promoting respect for Indigenous Australians (AITSL 2014). Using the resources and online tools within the website also support teachers to continually aim for the EYLF principles 4. Respect for Diversity, and 5. Ongoing Learning and Reflective Practice which in turn support children to make progress with the learning outcomes (DET 2009).  Selecting quality curriculum resources is important and educators need to be careful that the content they access and share is factual, appropriate and meaningful. Selecting content such as the Narragunnawali website will provide educators with resources to understand, share and embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives (Shay & Oliver 2021). This will support educators engaging responsive learning spaces that spark conversation about Indigenous perspectives, histrory and culture.  

 

https://www.vaeai.org.au/ 

The Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated 

 

The Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI) website provides advice, advocacy, policy, and resources for the education and training of and for Indigenous people. The main functions of the Association is to build community success in education and training, but the website also offers units for early years, schools, higher education, and universities. For early years services for example, the VAEAI provide support in creating inclusive classrooms and advocate for the needs of Indigenous families based on overwhelming research into the importance of early childhood development. The website and the association was created and is maintained by local Aboriginal education consultative groups and refer to Indigenous community and people as ‘Koorie’. Accessing the information and resources within this website contributes to the growing respect and value we place on Koorie cultural knowledge and heritage and is an important step in the process of reconciliation.  

Within the resources section of the website, teacher’s can find publications, strategies, and curriculum resources. These resources support all students and teachers regardless of background, to engage in learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures. This in turn contributes to an inclusive education setting where respect for diversity and a sense of belonging is promoted (VIA & VAEAI, 2020). Creating inclusive classrooms include embedding Indigenous perspectives into the environment across all subjects and using a resource like this website provides a starting point for this (Shay & Oliver 2021).  Included in the resources available on this website is information about the significance of Identity and Country for Indigenous people and the respect and sensitivity non Indigenous people need to show.  

Through the VAEAI website there are multiple publications available including how to embed Indigenous culture, history and perspective into classrooms. This ties in with AITSL standards 1.4 and 2.4 by giving teachers the information they need to create inclusive and responsive classrooms and to teach their students with culturally appropriate understanding. Teachers can also use the information to help students work towards learning outcomes 1: Children have a strong sense of identity, and outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world (DET 2009). By reading through the resources and publications on the website, teachers can learn how to include Indigenous information and perspectives throughout the curriculum program.  

 

https://www.naidoc.org.au/ 

NAIDOC: National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee 

 

The National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee website focuses on the National Naidoc week celebrations that occur in Australia each year. The first week of July each year celebrates and recognises the achievements, culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about and participate in the celebrations. Part of the Naidoc Week celebration is a National awards ceremony recognising excellence in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, a national poster competition, and the funding of grants from the Australian Government to assist small communities to host Naidoc events. Historically the purpose of the Naidoc committee and Naidoc week was to increase awareness of the treatment of Indigenous Austalians.  

Included in the website is a collection of resources for teachers and the public to access. These resources include educational, toolkits, images and guidelines, the educational resources are links to downloadable pdf’s (Ware 2022). Accessing this information supports teachers to learn how to celebrate Naidoc week in the classroom and provide their class with respectful and current information. It is important for teachers to access information about Naidoc week and Indigenous perspectives so they can create safe and appropriate education spaces (Baigent & Lawson 2022). The Naidoc website supports teachers to meet AITSL standards 1.4 and 2.4 by suggesting teaching and behaviour management strategies, and providing history and current information to support the promotion of reconciliation. The website focuses on Identity for by providing insights and testimonials of Indigenous people for those with no lived experience or exposure to Indigenous perspectives to gain insight to promote their understanding.  

It is important to note the Naidoc week has been and continues to be seen as a form of protest by Indigenous Australians and their allies and it important for teachers to be mindful of the history of the event. Teachers can ensure that using the information contained in this website supports their understanding so they can embed and educate for and about Indigenous people, history and perspectives in their classroom. Celebrating Naidoc Week supports all Australians to develop an understanding of the history and culture along with a sense of pride (Evans, 2020). Developing an understanding in all aspects of our curriculum supports children to increase their awareness of the needs and rights of others, and to their understanding of the world in which they live (DET 2009), and to build on their intercultural capability (VCAA, 2011). 

 

Australian Government., N.D. Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies. https://aiatsis.gov.au/  

Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership., 2014. Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. https://www.aitsl.edu.au/docs/default-source/national-policy-framework/australian-professional-standards-for-teachers.pdf  

Baigent, J., Lawson, S., 2022. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocols Guide: for Teachers. SBS Learn https://www.sbs.com.au/learn/resources/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-protocols-guide-for-teachers/teacher-resource  

Commonwealth of Australia., 2020. National Aborigines and Islanders Day Committee https://www.naidoc.org.au 

Department of Education and Training., 2009. Belonging, Being and Becoming: The early years learning framework for Australia. 

Evans, S., 2020. Naidoc Week and the significance for all Australians. The Canberra Times  

Perso, T., Hayward, C., 2015. Teaching Indigenous Students: Cultural Awareness and Classroom Strategies for Improving Learning Outcomes. Taylor and Francis Group 

Price, K., Rogers, J., 2019. A brief history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education in Australia: An introduction for the teaching profession. Cambridge University Press  

Reconciliation Australia., N.D. Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education. https://www.narragunnawali.org.au/  

Shay, M., Oliver, R., 2021. Indigenous Education in Australia: Learning and Teaching for Deadly Futures. Taylor and Francis Group  

Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority., 2017. Victorian Curriculum Foundation –10. https://victoriancurriculum.vcaa.vic.edu.au/foundationlevel  

Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated., N.D. https://www.vaeai.org.au/ 

Victorian Inclusion Agency, & Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc., 2020. Walking Together. https://www.vaeai.org.au/wp-content/uploads/delightful-downloads/2020/06/FinalProof2020.pdf  

Ware, S., 2022. Celebrate Naidoc: Get up! Stand up! Show up! SBS Learn https://www.sbs.com.au/learn/resources/celebrate-naidoc-get-up-stand-up-show-up/teacher-resource