Today, educators around Australia have access to the official educational resources for this year’s NAIDOC Week theme: ‘For Our Elders’ on the ABC Education website.
The resources, written by educators from Culture is Life and overseen by Co-Chair, NAIDOC Committee, Dr Lynette Riley, AO, guide all educators on how to meaningfully introduce the stories and themes to students and their school communities.
In this year’s educational resource, there are powerful stories written by young First Nations people which celebrate and shine a light on Elders in their lives. The young First Nations people from Culture is Life’s 2023 Fullaship program share stories of Elders who have inspired them and from whom they continue to learn.
Educators and students alike will be moved by these personal accounts which exude the respect and reverence that these young people have for their Elders and the continuing knowledge that they pass down through to all Australians.
The stories shared through video interviews, photos, writing and short film are for Levels F-10, and are guided by the Australian Curriculum. There are two distinct needs in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education outlined in the Australian Curriculum: “firstly that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are able to see themselves, their identities and their cultures reflected in the curriculum of each of the learning areas, can fully participate in the curriculum and can build their self-esteem” and secondly “that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures cross-curriculum priority is designed for all students to engage in reconciliation, respect and recognition of the world’s oldest continuous living cultures.”
Quotes attributable to The National NAIDOC Committee:
“The National NAIDOC Committee is proud to announce the 2023 National NAIDOC Week Educational Resources, in partnership with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and First Nations educators at Culture is Life, an Aboriginal-led non-for profit organisation.
National NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair, Dr Lynette Riley AO is a distinguished educator, Wiradjuri and Gamilaroi Elder, and lifelong advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s right and access to education. Throughout her lifetime, Aunty Lynette Riley has seen first-hand the effects of systemic racism as barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. Her parents, and their parents, were not allowed to have an education. It was said that Aboriginal people were incapable of learning, and as a result Dr Riley’s parents were only allowed to receive an education up until the third grade, so that they could become good servants. Despite this, Aunty Lynette’s paternal grandfather, Eric Riley, taught her how to read before she had even started kindergarten. Aunty Lynette says that “he was the driving force, pushing me into getting an education”.
Since then, Aunty Lynette has gone on to receive her PhD, and dedicated her career to education. She has been a driving force in the educational sector for both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the education of non-Indigenous Australians on our true, shared histories, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures. Aunty Lynette attests that her drive “has come from my Elders”.
It is with great pride that we share with you the 2023 National NAIDOC Week Educational Resources, paying tribute to this year’s National NAIDOC Week theme – ‘For Our Elders’. By honouring the past, and paying tribute to our Elders, we lay the foundations for the future generations to come.”
Quotes attributable to Culture Is Life
Culture is Life is honoured to continue the work of so many First Nations storytellers’ relentless efforts to ensure our Elders stories are known and valued as First Peoples of this land.
This year’s NAIDOC resources ‘For Our Elders’, were written by Culture is Life’s Aboriginal educators, with the cultural guidance of the fierce education advocate and Elder, Aunty Lynette Riley, in partnership with the ABC and the Indigenous leadership of Kelrick Martin, and with our young people’s perspectives and ideas at the centre. We hope that these stories of love, resistance and survival, are embraced by all people living on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands, and are passed down beyond NAIDOC weeks, for generations to come.
– Thara Brown, Education Manager
Quotes Attributable to ABC:
NAIDOC Week gives all Australians the chance to get involved, learn and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander excellence. Engagement with students across the country is an integral part of NAIDOC Week and these resources give you, as teachers, the opportunity to incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, knowledge, and histories into your classrooms. This year’s theme For Our Elders allows you to engage with your local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, Traditional Owners, Elders and Land Councils and other Indigenous community organisations and to hear directly from those in the Indigenous community who hold so much wisdom, knowledge and experience.
– Kelrick Martin, ABC Head of Indigenous
As the official partner for NAIDOC Week 2023, we are delighted to be able to bring our media expertise to this year’s NAIDOC celebrations and to explore the people, places and culture of the week with Australian students around the country.
The ABC has once again worked closely with Culture is Life, an Aboriginal-led, not-for-profit organisation that focuses on strengthening cultural ties of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
I would like to thank all those at Culture is Life for the invaluable contribution they have made to this year’s NAIDOC Week resources, including a series of short videos that reflect this year’s theme – For Our Elders.
As a teacher, I’m sure you’ll find the video and print resources informative, accessible, and respectful.
– David Anderson, ABC Managing Director
