Developing an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Languages Curriculum

Offering a local language curriculum in your school.

If your local community is interested in working toward offering a local language curriculum at your school there are existing resources for each state to support this process. As a first step, we recommend reading:

• The Australian Curriculum, Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages.

In particular the Framework’s ‘Rationale’ and ‘Guiding principles’ overview includes things to consider when approaching your local community.

These guides to offering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language curriculum in schools are also useful resources particularly in regions where languages are not strong:

• A guide to implementing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Syllabuses. This was written for principals in QLD to implement language syllabuses, however the processes described in the guide are relevant to anyone who wants to begin a school language program.

• The Journey’s Just Begun: Enhancing schools’ capacity to partner Aboriginal communities to improve student learning. This resource follows the journeys of four communities and schools in NSW working together to develop locally relevant and culturally appropriate curriculum.

Here are some links to information specific to your region

New South Wales

• Aboriginal Languages K–10 Syllabus

• School and Aboriginal Community Partnerships

• Support resources

• Research

Northern Territory

• Keeping Indigenous Languages and Cultures Strong – A Plan for the Teaching and Learning of Indigenous Languages and Cultures in Northern Territory Schools

• NT Curriculum Framework, Indigenous Languages and Culture

Queensland

• P–10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Syllabus

• A guide to implementing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Syllabuses, Information for Principals

• Global schools through languages: A plan for supporting successful global citizens in Queensland state schools

South Australia

• South Australian Curriculum, Standards and Accountability Framework Australian Indigenous Languages

• Curriculum & Leadership Journal | New resources for Indigenous language education in South Australia

Victoria

• Victorian Aboriginal Languages Curriculum

• R–10 Languages (Australian Indigenous) Teaching Resource

• R-10 LANGUAGES (Aust Indig) (vcaa.vic.edu.au)

• Victorian Aboriginal Languages - Resources - Victorian Curriculum (vcaa.vic.edu.au)

• Learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures

Western Australia

• Aboriginal Languages of WA, Syllabus and Support Materials

• Aboriginal languages teacher training

Tasmania

Although the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre does not support teaching Aboriginal language in schools at this time, they have developed a presentation to help educators accomodate the Australian Curriculum Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages for palawa kani.

• tipara waranta kani nina-mapali-tu?