Useful Links
Key Organisations, Teaching Resources and Websites
Resources, data and information to support Indigenous teaching (and research) can be found in a wide range of places, as the following selection shows.
Australian Bureau of Statistics
For all Census data, as well as resources designed for teachers
and students: see, for example, ‘Indigenous Statistics for Schools’
under ‘Education’.
Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
ACER is responsible for several major national surveys, including
the Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE). Indigenous and
non-Indigenous Australians are surveyed each year, as well as Maori and
Pacific students in New Zealand. (For an analysis of the 2009
Indigenous data, see Asmar, C., Page, S. & Radloff, A. (2011).
Australian Human Rights Commission
The Commission was established in 1986 and is an independent
statutory organisation which reports to the federal Parliament through
the Attorney-General. It has a specific Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Social Justice Commissioner.
Australian Indigenous Health Info Net
A free web resource for anyone working or studying in the
area of Indigenous health in the tertiary sector.
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
AIATSIS is a Commonwealth body set up to undertake and encourage
scholarly, ethical community-based research in Indigenous studies. Of particular value for teachers, students and scholars are the
AIATSIS Guidelines for Ethical Research, founded on respect for
Indigenous peoples’ inherent right to self-determination, and to control
and maintain their culture and heritage.
Australian Learning and Teaching Council
The ALTC was established by the Australian government as a
national focus for the enhancement of learning and teaching in higher
education. In 2011, the ALTC ceased to operate. In its place the Minister for Tertiary Education established the Office of Learning and Teaching (OLT).
Australian
Indigenous Studies Learning and Teaching Network
The Australian
Indigenous Studies Learning and Teaching Network website provides teaching and
learning examples, publications, information about the network, research
projects, courses, and events. Anyone with an interest in teaching and learning
Indigenous studies is welcome to join the network.
Close the Gap Coalition
A coalition of forty Indigenous and non-Indigenous
organisations urging the Federal, State and Territory governments to
commit to closing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and
non-Indigenous Australians within a generation.
Get Up!
GetUp is an independent, grass-roots community advocacy
organisation giving everyday Australians opportunities to get involved
and hold politicians accountable on important issues. They have run
several campaigns relating to Indigenous Australians including: saving
homeland communities, the Northern Territory intervention, Closing the
Gap, and the Apology.
Indigenous Voices, teaching us better
This website gives trainers insights into the
experiences that Indigenous learners have when they come in contact with the
education and training system, as well as to provide them with some strategies
to try out to improve the educational experiences of Indigenous learners.
Koorie Heritage Trust
The Koorie Heritage Trust is an organisation devoted to the
protection, preservation and promotion of the living culture of
south-eastern Indigenous people in Australia, and to bridging the
cultural gap between the Koorie people (link to Koori in Glossary) and
the wider community. The Trust plays an important educational role and
provides rich resources for teachers and students, including a research
library dating back to the 1800’s.
NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG)
An Aboriginal community-based organisation made up of
volunteer members who are involved in Local and Regional AECGs
throughout NSW. It is recognised as the principal source of advice, on
behalf of Aboriginal communities, on issues relating to education and
training.
NSW Aboriginal Land Council
The NSW peak representative body in Aboriginal Affairs.
National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
The source of authoritative guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Health Research. While related specifically to health and medical
research, these guidelines provide valuable advice for all researchers
and teachers.
Reconciliation Australia is an independent, not-for-profit, peak national organisation building and promoting reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians for the wellbeing of the nation
‘Stereotype threat’ is a very useful concept for analysing issues in Indigenous student learning. This very helpful website offers summaries of research on stereotype threat, discusses unresolved issues and controversies in the research literature, and provides some research-based suggestions for reducing the negative consequences of stereotyping, particularly in academic settings.
Teaching 4 Change
Funded by the ALTC and developed by academics from the Univeristy of Queensland and around Australia it provides practical resources for educators in Indigenous Australian studies.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The Declaration is a non-binding document setting out basic
standards for the recognition and protection of Indigenous peoples’
rights internationally. It provides a framework for countries … to help
reduce levels of disadvantage and discrimination experienced by many of
the world’s 370 million Indigenous people.
What I Learned in Class Today: Aboriginal Issues in the Classroom
This research project, developed in the First Nations
Studies Program at the University of British Columbia, explores
difficult discussions of Aboriginal issues that take place in
classrooms. It includes some excellent videos of First Nations students
relating their classroom experiences.
What Works: The Work Program
A set of web based and print materials, with case studies
for those working in schools. It is designed to assist schools to plan
and take action to improve educational outcomes for Australian
Indigenous students.