Learn from First Nations Voices in Education

First Nations and non-Indigenous educators and education activists have long worked to impact policy and curriculum to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and perspectives in Australian classrooms.

First Nations Education Champions (L-R): Aunty Kaye Price, Professor Peter Buckskin, Aunty Geraldine Atkinson, Ned David and Aunty Denise Proud. Photo: Gilimbaa Creative Agency

Educators are always looking for appropriate resources that truly reflect the wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples produced by − or in collaboration with − First Nations peoples. 

Reconciliation Australia’s Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education program provides resources for teachers and educators to take action towards reconciliation between non-Indigenous and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to help build understanding on how to respectfully include First Nations perspectives in learning environments. 

First Nations Voices in Education is the latest professional learning resource produced by Narragunnawali  in collaboration with Gilimbaa  Creative Agency.  

Much more than a collection of ideas, it is a set of films accompanied by an extensive guide shaped by the hard work and actions of five committed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education champions who understand the power of truth-telling and cultural integrity in education. 

The five champions − Aunty Denise Proud, Professor Peter Buckskin, Dr Kaye Price, Aunty Geraldine Atkinson and Ned David − have fought for change in the Australian education system over many decades, leading to some of the policy and curriculum reforms that all learners benefit from today. 

The content in First Nations Voices in Education equips teachers and educators with the knowledge and understanding to appropriately include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into their work with confidence and respect, creating classrooms where all children and students can learn from the oldest living cultures in the world. 

Mapped against Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, this professional learning resource is designed for facilitated as well as self-guided and self-paced use, whether individually, in small groups, or during all-staff professional development opportunities. 

Education advocate and contributor to the First Nations Voices in Education project Dr Kaye Price said, ‘If you don’t embed those cross-curriculum perspectives into your teaching, then you are really doing the country as a whole a disservice. It’s just paramount that people who live in this country know about the country.’ 

All of the films and resources can be accessed via the Narragunnawali platform narragunnawali.org.au 

You don’t need to be a teacher or educator to watch the films but you will need a free account to access these and all the comprehensive education resources on the Narragunnawali platform. 

This article is from the 53rd edition of Reconciliation News. Read the rest of the issue.

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Paul House with gum leaves and smoke
Paul Girrawah House

Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallabollooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups.

Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry ‘Black Harry’ Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Ngunnawal-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Ngunnawal–Wallaballooa man William Lane aka ‘Billy the Bull’ - Murrjinille.

Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge.

Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU.

Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is Board Director, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia and Australian Government Voice Referendum Engagement Group.  

Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Senior Community Engagement Officer

Acknowledgement of Country

Reconciliation Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing  connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

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