Guides: Education Support and Childcare: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture and Education

eBooks

Health Professionals and Indigenous Health EB Burda-burda Balayi Health Professionals and Indigenous Health: Working at the Interface provides a strengths-based focus on how to build both an understanding of self and professional practice, as well as Indigenous and non-Indigenous history, society and culture in future health professionals. It covers themes of cultural safety, truth-telling, colonialism and shared futures, promoting effective health outcomes for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous people.
Teaching Indigenous Students : Cultural Awareness and Classroom Strategies for Improving Learning Outcomes Indigenous children, like all children, deserve a future they choose for themselves. This book aims to empower teachers to help halt the cycle of disadvantage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and make a real difference to their relationships, learning outcomes and opportunities in the short and long term. Based on their many years of experience in teaching and research, the authors provide approaches that have been proven to be effective.

Online Videos

Sand symbols The Sand Symbols is a story about an Aboriginal Elder sharing cultural and historical knowledge with her grandchildren, and discovering comparisons with modern and traditional Australian societies. It is read by the author, Ms Nola Turner-Jensen.
First Australians This is the most ambitious TV project to be undertaken on Indigenous Australia. Produced by Australia's leading Aboriginal filmmakers, the series chronicles the birth of a country and the collision of two worlds. It is an epic story that comes alive through the struggles of individuals, both black and white. The series blends landscape, art, interviews and first-hand accounts with a vast archival collection to present the birth of contemporary Australia as never seen before.
First Nation Bedtime Stories This story follows a little boy who wanders from camp and encounters the Bungalungoo in the hills at Ulumbarru.
Indigenous Students Graduate Using "Both-Ways" in its Curriculum Blending Indigenous and western knowledge and language in its curriculum, a group of students from Yirrkala in north-east Arnhem Land graduated year 12 last year. Emma Masters reports.
Our Bedtime Stories Margaret MK Kemarre Turner tells the Story of the Milky Way in Arrernte as a children's story with leaf puppets.
Shared Rituals and Routines for Kindergarten Indigenous Teaching and Learning Watch how rituals and culturally sensitive routines extend learning and foster belonging while building trust among early years educators, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and children.
Twelve Canoes In the wake of the international success of Ten canoes, Rolf de Heer has collaborated again with the Ramingining community of north Arnhem Land in making this series of twelve short documentaries that together paint a visual and audio portrait of the people, history, culture and place of the Yolngu people.
Waabiny Time (Playing Time) Waabiny Time (Playing Time) is an engaging and educational thirteen-part series that takes children from the ages of 3 to 6 on an entertaining adventure, guiding them through stories, songs and activities that are authentically indigenous and encourage participation.
Yarramundi Kids Today's theme is water. Uncle Jimmy Little is our special guest. We learn the Darug word Wida means water. Joshua and the Two Crabs is the story, and we learn about a canoe tree relic in the bush.

Websites

50 Words in Australian Indigenous Languages A new online resource – the 50 Words Project – makes words from local Indigenous languages available for every Australian to hear and learn
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures From SBS Learn - SBS Learn is the educational arm of the wider SBS Outreach initiative, focusing on creating quality materials for teachers aligned to the Australian curriculum.
Coding Aboriginal Languages for Indigenous Literacy (CALIL) The Program equips community participants with the skills to collect, categorise and convert oral First Language elements into effective reading and writing resources
Gambay: A Map of Australia's First Languages First Languages Australia in partnership with local language centres across Australia have developed an interactive map to display and promote the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. The map, titled Gambay, translates to "together" in the Butchulla language of the Hervey Bay region in Queensland. Gambay showcases over 780 languages, using data contributed by regional language centres and programs working directly with language communities around Australia.
Identity and Belonging From Queensland Government - Foundations for Success. A child builds knowledgeable and confident identity. They: develop pride and strength in personal and cultural identity share a sense of belonging and connectedness.
Indigenous Knowledge Resources for Australian School Curricula Project The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Curricula Project is a University of Melbourne initiative which aims to empower all teachers to integrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures in their teaching using these curriculum resources that incorporate Indigenous knowledge.
Indigenous Portal The site shares stories from individuals, communities and organisations across Australia, telling real stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the challenges and opportunities facing them, and the successes and achievements being demonstrated every day.
Maths, Story and Dance A new method using culture-based storytelling to teach maths to Aboriginal children is reaping results. Aboriginal children on average lag two years behind their non-Indigenous peers when it comes to maths, but according to one expert we can bridge the gap by paying better attention to culture. "Maths and science are very much seen, from an Aboriginal point of view, as a whitefella thing," said Dr Christopher Matthews, who is just one of a few Aboriginal people to earn a PhD in mathematics.
The Possum Skin Pedagogy: A Guide for Early Childhood Practitioners. Action on Aboriginal Perspectives in Early Childhood (AAPEC) is a collective of people committed to embedding Aboriginal Perspectives in early childhood services with a focus on local Victorian cultures.
Teaching Reading and Writing With Aboriginal Children This book explains the Reading to Learn method, with a series of activities for you to get started, and guidance for planning lessons and implementing in your classrooms.
Tracks to two-way learning Tracks to two-way learning is a train-the-trainer resource which aims to improve quality teaching and learning of Aboriginal students through the 4 dimensions of Staff Knowledge and Practice, Community Engagement, Policy and Practice, Learner Engagement.

Books & Teacher Resources

Book and Teacher Notes from Magabala Books...

The teacher resources are free and provide comprehensive and practical guidelines to assist teachers to use Indigenous books in the classroom. they are developed by teachers, teacher librarians and curriculum writers. Click on the link below to see more junior fiction titles with teacher notes.

Teacher Notes - Magabala Books

Here are a few examples...

Benny Bungarra's Big Bush Clean-up Benny Bungarra comes to the rescue when his friends are in danger from rubbish left by humans.

Teacher Notes - Benny Bungarra's Big Bush Clean-up Teacher resources from Magabala Books are free and provide comprehensive and practical guidelines to assist teachers to use Indigenous books in the classroom.

Big Fella Rain Big Fella Rain is a celebration of northern Australia as animals, birds, trees and a parched earth await the first rain. It is almost as if country stands still as the sparse yet evocative text pays homage to the transition from dry season to wet season in a country that is like no other place in the world.

Teacher Notes - Big Fella Rain From Magabala Books - our teacher resources are free and provide comprehensive and practical guidelines to assist teachers to use Indigenous books in the classroom.

Monster Party Monster Party is an explosion of fun and pure joy. Children will love the hilarious, naughty desert monsters who come out of the ground to have a party on Dora Lake. Eating chips and monster cake, they go `galumphing' all over the place with a drum and a bass! Of all shapes and sizes, these monsters create havoc for the children at Rawa Community School who live on the edge of the Great Sandy Desert - `dancing and stomping', `crashing and crunching', `prowling and growling', `happy and smiling'! Jeepers creepers!

Teacher Notes - Monster Party From Magabala Books - The teacher resources are free and provide comprehensive and practical guidelines to assist teachers to use Indigenous books in the classroom.

Scaly-Tailed Possum and Echidna Passed down from generation to generation by the Kandiwal Aboriginal community, this traditional Dreamtime story explains how the scaly-tailed possum got its scaly tail and how the echidna--one of Australia's most unusual mammals--got its spikes.

Teacher Notes - Scaly-Tailed Possum and Echidna Teacher resources are free and provide comprehensive and practical guidelines to assist teachers to use Indigenous books in the classroom.

Dictionaries

Ballardong Noongar Dictionary Ballardong refers to the Noongar language group north-east of Perth.

Noongar Boodja Waangkan : Noongar first words Wandjoo Noongar boodja – welcome to Noongar Country! Noongar is the language of the Noongar nation and is spoken by 14 different groups across the south-west corner of Western Australia. Written in Noongar and English, this fully illustrated collection of first Noongar words includes family, plants, animals, emotions, colours, numbers and more.

Noongar Dictionary Noongar dictionary second edition by Rose Whitehurst.
Illustrated Dictionary of the South-West Aboriginal Language Prepared and illustrated by Wilf Douglas 1996. Published by the Edith Cowan University.

Books and DVD's in the Library

Moort : A Celebration of a Traditional and Contemporary Aboriginal Family System A scholarly, cross-cultural exploration of the Nyoongar Aboriginal concept of moort (family) pre and post-contact with a view to improving the way government agencies (particularly welfare bodies) understand and interact with present-day Nyoongar families and their children.
Learning and Teaching in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education This book helps pre-service teachers prepare themselves for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in urban, remote and rural primary and secondary schools.
The Little Red Yellow Black Book This book has established itself as the perfect starting point for those who want to learn about the rich cultures & histories of Australia's First Peoples.

Junior Fiction

Djinang Bonar : seeing seasons A dual-language picture book introducing early readers to the six Noongar seasons with emerging First Nations talent Ebony Froome and Leanne Zilm.
Fair Skin Black Fella An educational and heartwarming read, this story follows Mary, a young Aboriginal girl who lives on dusty cattle station.
Looking after country with Fire : Aboriginal Burning Knowledge with Uncle Kuu This is a powerful and timely story of understanding Australia's ecosystems through Indigenous fire management, and a respectful way forward for future generations to help manage our landscapes.
Ninni Yabini Written in Noongar and English, and illustrated with striking contemporary artwork, Ninni Yabini is a memorable celebration of family and belonging.
Sorry Day This book retells the significant day when Kevin Rudd as then Australian Prime Minister acknowledged the sadness of the past and said 'sorry' to Indigenous children who were taken from their homes.
The Art in Country Bronwyn Bancroft uses colours, shapes, patterns and words to explore the awe-inspiring beauty of the Australian continent, and to express the depth of her feelings for it.

Lesson Plans / Teaching and Learning Resources for Teachers

Aboriginal Symbols Flashcards From the Aussie Childcare Network website
Crackerjack Education A range of free Indigenous teaching resources approved and developed by Crackerjack Education.
Creative Spirits Teacher resources to match the Australian cross-curriculum priorities. A cheat sheet helping teachers plan lessons for the Australian curriculum.
Indigenous Weather Knowledge - Nyoongar calendar Nyoongar country spans from Leeman in the northwest to beyond Cape Arid in the southeast, in the southwest of Australia. The Nyoongar calendar includes six seasons.
Little J and Big Cuz The Little J & Big Cuz education resources provide support for Early Years (K-2) educators with ideas and options for including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander knowledge, understanding and skills in their teaching and learning programs
Make It Count - Deadly Maths Focus is practical and on providing ideas for teaching particular topics, yet with a theoretical basis, and covers all mathematics strands in the Australian Curriculum.
Mathematics as Storytelling This resource supports teachers to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into the teaching and learning of mathematics. This approach can benefit the teacher and students in any classroom.
Noongar Knowledge This Education resource assists teachers by providing links between Kaartdijin Noongar website and the Australian Curriculum. There are resources for History, English and Geography from Pre-Primary to Year 10
Teaching with Aunty Lessons The Teaching With Aunty lessons contain step-by-step teaching notes for creating culturally rich instruction by utilising a wide range of resources on the site.

Bilingual Titles

Counting our Country This is a bilingual counting book from Jill Daniels, an Indigenous artist. Jill's paintings of animals found on her country celebrate her distinctive style and playful use of colour. Children will love counting the animals from 1 to 10 as they turn the pages. Each double-page spread features the name of the animal in Ritharrnu, Jill's Aboriginal language, and in English. Counting our Country recognises the value of developing cultural literary by introducing Indigenous language and art in the early years.
Nedingar = Ancestors This lyrical, dual language picture book from two debut First Nations creators celebrates the beauty of Country and family. 'Please Mum, I want to meet my ancestors, I want to learn from them so I know who I am.' Inspired by traditional Indigenous teachings, every family will relate to this beautiful bilingual picture book as brought to life by Noongar storytellers Isobel Bevis and Leanne Zilm highlighting the rich cultural heritage we all share. The book features gorgeously hand painted images of Australian flora and fauna.
Noorn = Snake This story comes from the wise and ancient language of the First People of the Western Australian south coast. Noorn is a story of alliances between humans and other living creatures, in this case a snake. It tells of how protective relationships can be nurtured by care and respect. (Series: Wirlomin Noongar Language and Stories Project, Vol. 6) [Subject: Aboriginal Studies, Anthropology, Australian Studies, Fiction, Noongar Language, Art]
Waakarl Kardakoor Bilya-k A bilingual book in Noongar Kaniyang and English about the Blackwood River Rainbow Serpent and Kaniyang spirits' journey to the open sea. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of how the Waakarl - (rainbow serpent) carries the souls the deceased Noongars along the Blackwood river and out into the Indian Ocean and their final resting place.

Online Journals & Articles

The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education is an internationally refereed journal which publishes papers and reports on the theory, method, and practice of Indigenous education. The journal welcomes articles that ground theoretical reflections and discussions in qualitative and quantitative studies, as well as examples of best practice with a focus on Indigenous education. AJIE seeks to foster debate between researchers, government, and community groups on the shifting paradigms, problems, and practical outcomes of Indigenous education.
More Indigenous children are going to preschool, but is this enough? The latest Closing the Gap data contains some good news – there is a marked increase in early childhood enrolments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The report shows how in the year before full-time schooling, there has been a 25% increase in enrolments over the past seven years.
"Teaching Culture Through Culture": A Case Study of Culturally Responsive Pedagogies in an Australian Early Childhood/Primary Context. This article presents the findings from a case study focused on understanding how cultural models of education are brought together in dialogue to re-imagine education. The use of cultural models theory provided a useful framework for exploring how teachers, leaders, children, and families at Westside Primary School orchestrated multiple perspectives to re-imagine their figured world as culturally responsive. Findings suggest the principles from two cultural models of education – Reggio Emilia and a pedagogical framework called the Nunga Way, informed by local Australian Aboriginal First Nations peoples – were significant for local culturally responsive pedagogy.