The Australian Curriculum sets what all students should learn at school in Australia. It has three cross-curriculum priorities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures.
This priority aims to help all young Australians:
- gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures, knowledge traditions and holistic world views.
- engage positively in Australia’s journey towards reconciliation.
The Alice Springs (Mpartnwe) Education Declaration conveys that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures cross curriculum priority is an important part of delivering a world-class curriculum.
It supports students to become
‘responsible local and global members of the community in an interconnected world and to engage with complex ethical issues and concepts such as sustainability’.
For many teachers, it may be the first time they have been required to teach this content. It’s important to:
- support staff in all learning areas and across all year groups to understand and embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures
- give staff strategies to include the cross-curriculum priority when developing units, lesson plans and resources.
