Indigenous Culture and Languages (T/A/M) 

Indigenous Culture and Languages 

In this course, students learn about the complexities, variety, common features, and valuable opportunities of shared worlds and cultures. While studying Indigenous Culture and Languages, students look at identity, social justice, and human rights issues that matter locally, nationally, and globally. This especially includes the world’s oldest continuing culture, the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The course helps students consider how indigenous culture affects their learning and the development of their knowledge and attitudes.

Course Patterns 

Odd years (2027, 2029) Even Years (2028, 2030)

Semester 1: Communities, Cultures and Identities Semester 1: Ways of Knowing

Semester 2: Representations and Perspectives Semester 2: Language and Wellbeing

Communities, Cultures and Identities

Students will explore the diversity of indigenous peoples and communities. Students will build an understanding of historical, socio-political, socio-economic, linguistic and cultural concepts. There will be a strong community context, with students learning to explore and reflect on the complexities of identity and individual experience. Students will gain an appreciation of the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia and other global indigenous cultures.

Representations and Perspectives                                                                                                                  

Students will study the representations and misrepresentations of Indigenous peoples and communities through local, national and global contexts and perspectives. Students will learn about the conflicts and triumphs of various communities and peoples over time. They will examine how narratives and language have positioned indigenous people throughout history. Students will explore social justice and human rights issues.

Ways of Knowing

Students will develop insights into Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples by comparing them with local, national and global communities. Students will explore the complexities and rich opportunities of shared worlds and cultures, considering the personal experiences of community members. Students will investigate traditional and contemporary ways in which communities transfer language, knowledge, beliefs, and values, including protocols, roles, and responsibilities. Students will engage with the arts, literature and storytelling.

Language and Wellbeing

Students will study the diversity and relatedness of languages in local, national and global contexts and the extent to which language connects people to land and culture. Students will explore the connection between language and identity. Students will learn the history and complexities of language loss in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities and the consequences that flow from it. Students will come to appreciate the benefits, including wellbeing and connection to country, that come from language maintenance, recovery, revitalisation, and newer languages and language change.