Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders

Contacts

Planning Grid Questions

Teaching and Learning Activities

Overview

The recognition and celebration of the unique positions of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia are fundamental to the creation of an equitable society. A SOSE curriculum which represents Aboriginal perspectives can help students and teachers to develop greater understanding of Aboriginal cultures and the issues that face Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander people today and act in more socially just ways.

This organiser provides for every student to develop values relating to
social justice, democratic process and ecological sustainability. By
talking with Aboriginal people and undertaking integrated units of work, students can come to understand the influence of Tasmanian Aboriginal people on contemporary society, can appreciate the complexity of their
social and kinship ties and can value Aboriginal knowledge of the natural environment and its continuing relevance today. By studying issues that
are current for our indigenous population, students can begin to acknowledge the dynamic and living cultures of Aboriginal people and recognise a range of viewpoints relating to the effects on society of racism, prejudice and stereotyping on society.

Schools can develop their Aboriginal Studies program in three ways: by creating a discrete unit, course or subject within SOSE; by integrating Aboriginal Studies content with other units, courses or subjects; or by using Aboriginal Studies content across the curriculum in each of the eight learning areas. It is essential that members of the Aboriginal community participate in all stages of the development, implementation and evaluation of these. The Tasmanian Aboriginal Education Association can facilitate this, but schools may consult their ASSPA Committee or an appropriate local Aboriginal education body.

The perspectives taken in TAS APAC (1997), Aboriginal Education: Strategic Plan 1997-2002 (DECCD, 1997) and the Guidelines for Aboriginal Studies K-12 (1996) provide valuable ways of supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies across the curriculum.

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The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Organiser as depicted
on the SOSE Planning Grid

Strand	Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders
Time, Continuity and Change
Key ideas to be developed ways of organising and recording time patterns of change evolution and revolution heritage the nature of change - predicted and unpredicted - intended and unintended cause and effect continuity, change and discontinuity	What is the history of racism in Australia? In what ways can shared ownership of history contribute to lasting reconciliation in Australia? What action can and should be taken to improve the sense in all Australians of a shared ownership of their future? How can we ensure that, in the long term, the understanding and ownership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories benefits the Australian community as a whole?
Place and Space
Key ideas to be developed spatial patterns reason for location and distribution interaction between features or components of places valuing places interdependence within and between natural and built spaces	In what ways does an understanding of the Aboriginal view of land and sea contribute to the future use of the natural environment? What action should the community take to advance the recognition of indigenous Australians' relationship with the land and sea? How can we ensure that, in the long term, the recognition of indigenous Australians' relationship with land and sea will benefit the Australian community as a whole?
Culture
Key ideas to be developed construction of personal and group identity diversity within and between cultures nature and purpose of cohesion development and consequences of belief	In what ways do the Aboriginal people develop their sense of identity? What is the Dreaming and how is it described by different Aboriginal groups? What significance can the Dreaming have for all Australians? What are the defining features of Aboriginal cultures? How do Aboriginal ethical spiritual and religious beliefs shape their future?
Resources
Key ideas to be developed efficiency and productivity in resource management decision-making in resource use principles of sustainable development management of human, financial and natural resources enterprise practices scarcity and consumption	In what ways are Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders disadvantaged economically and politically, and what are the causes of that disadvantage? What action should be taken to eliminate the causes of disadvantages? How can we ensure that, in the long term, eliminating the causes of disadvantage will benefit the Australian community as a whole?
Systems - Natural, Legal, Political and Economic
Key ideas to be developed human community systems decision-making and conflict resolution systems interrelationships and integration of all systems power and authority	What social and legal systems do Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders use to solve community problems and resolve conflict? What significant legal and political decisions have affected the rights and responsibilities of Aborigines, Torres Strait Islanders and all Australians? What power do Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders have in the Australian political, economic and legal systems? What images and stories do the media use to represent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?

Teaching and Learning Activities

Exploring Cultural Stereotypes
A unit for Band C.

Pilawuk
Using a cooperative structure to explore children's books.

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