Understanding Indigenous Education & Perspectives

This unit focuses on contemporary and historical Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, identity, languages, histories, status, challenges, contributions and perspectives. The unit aims to enable students to synthesise perspectives about Indigenous education and how these can enhance Western education practices. An additional aim is to plan and develop authentic curriculum and pedagogy for teaching Indigenous children and analyse how Indigenous teaching and learning practices can benefit all children. The knowledge and understanding contributes to graduates’ cultural competence and promotes culturally inclusive teaching practices based and sensitive and informed relationships.

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Critically analyse Australian Indigenous education and perspectives.
2. Critically assess the impact of historical and contemporary events and issues on current educational contexts for Indigenous people.
3. Evaluate how Indigenous education and perspectives aligns with teachers’ professional role as advocates for children and their families.
4. Critically reflect on their own attitudes and values in relation to Indigenous people and how these may affect their teaching and professional relationships.
5. Articulate the continuous contributions of Indigenous people in Australian society.
6. Plan authentic learning experiences that enable all children to learn about Indigenous people and perspectives.