This unit provides you with a broad overview of the education of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia. It begins by looking at traditional ways of educating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, before examining a history of Indigenous education since the colonisation of Australia by white settlers, and seeing how racism still has a major influence on Indigenous education. You will look at the impact of social factors, such as health issues, housing, remoteness, and poverty on education; and also see how different cultural factors, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait identities, different ways of teaching and learning, and language in particular, affect Indigenous education in Australia. You will look more specifically at teaching and learning in Indigenous communities, including some case studies. Finally, the unit allows you to explore trends in Indigenous early childhood education, school education, Indigenous vocational education and training (VET) and TAFE, and Indigenous tertiary education in more detail, including the influence that Indigenous Australians have had on mainstream education.

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Unit Coordinator

Some resource materials are dated.

Review the current resource materials and update to more recent materials where required.

Feedback from Students

Students praise the regular communication and level of support they receive.

Continue to stay in regular contact with students, either individually or in small groups, in order to provide support and maintain high levels of student engagement.