Goal 7 - Acknowledgement of the Right of Aboriginal People to Own and Preserve their Culture, and Share with Non-Aboriginal People the Richness and Value of that Culture

Supporting benchmarks:

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Activity directed towards achieving the benchmarks during 2006-07

Changing Places Program

Changing Places is a program that supports the development of deep cultural understanding and sound practices for teachers of Indigenous education.

During 2006, two-day Changing Places workshops were offered to teachers. Practical and relevant teaching materials that utilised a range of learning styles to encourage collaborative inquiry amongst students were trialled.

Think Tank Program

The Think Tank program offered innovative short courses to Aboriginal students in thinking and communicating. The program supported teachers, students, parents and community members to access school programs more effectively.

Holistic Planning and Teaching Framework for Cultural Understandings

The Holistic Planning and Teaching Framework for Cultural Understandings is a planning tool for educators to support effective Aboriginal cultural understandings through the curriculum. A number of two-day workshops, designed to assist educators capture information using six main elements of Indigenous interrelationships: land, language, culture, time, place and relationships, were offered to teachers of Indigenous education.

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Aboriginal Cross-Cultural Awareness Courses

Aboriginal cross-cultural awareness courses provide teachers and other interested staff with an understanding of Tasmanian Aboriginal people and culture, both historical and contemporary. In 2006-07, 55 teachers participated in these courses.

Aboriginal Speakers Program

The Aboriginal Speakers program focuses on increasing awareness and understanding of Tasmanian Aboriginal cultures, both historical and contemporary.

Tasmanian Aboriginal people are primarily contracted as speakers because the focus for student learning is on local culture, history and knowledge. Aboriginal speakers demonstrate and talk about their Aboriginal skills, talents and knowledge in their area of expertise.

In 2006-07, 80 teachers participated in the program.

Gumnuts to Buttons

Gumnuts to Buttons is a visual and interactive simulation activity designed to introduce participants to new knowledge and awareness of important events and occurrences in Tasmanian history, particularly from an Aboriginal perspective.

This activity was widely used in Years 5 to 12 to assist teachers foster an understanding of, and respect for, Indigenous traditional and contemporary cultures amongst their students.

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