Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture

Welcome to our blog. Parents have shown an interest in the content that is being taught throughout HASS this year and have asked for further clarification. We hope that by providing the following information, some of your questions will be answered. Some of the questions raised were:

What will my child be learning?

One of the key learning areas throughout the Australian Curriculum focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture. There is particular focus on the weather and seasons and the way they are described within different cultural context. Our students will be provided with opportunities to compare the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples seasonal calendar against a more familiar European calendar. We will also be looking at seasons in detail and exploring the Aboriginal 6 seasons against the more familiar 4 seasons.

How will this be taught?

The Australian Curriculum provides a framework for teachers to work within the guidelines provided, however there are also a number of online resources that we find useful to assist us in the delivery of appropriate, accurate and respectful Indigenous education. These include What Works. The Work Program and 8 ways (Aboriginal pedagogy). Although these resources are wonderful, most of our learning is done outside the classroom. Our class has prepared a Walk on Country which aims to promote thought on what differentiates each season, provides students with opportunities to discuss weather and investigate plant life and collect natural resources.

Why is this important?

Many Australians have little knowledge of the unique place that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have in the world, that uniqueness being that we have the oldest living culture. Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education into the classroom provides opportunities for students to gain a further understanding and appreciation of culture, and empowers our students with knowledge and understanding to be positive participants in the community.

How am I able to be included in the learning process?

Introducing traditional stories will be a part of our learning process. The Torres Strait people tell of a great sea hero, Tagai. Through this story, collaborated with traditional Dreamtime stories telling of Aboriginal seasons and weather conditions, assist in student’s comprehension of how Aboriginal people, Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians describe weather patterns and seasons differently.

If you have access to a computer, you may like to view these stories with your child prior to our discussions in and out of the classroom. The links are provided below.


We would be thrilled for any parents/carers to join us on a Walk on Country. Please contact us if this is something you would be interested in. Alternatively, if you have a story to tell, a song to share or could enhance our students learning further surrounding these topics, please come and join us!



The following links are:



For How the water got to the plains: click here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QL5Rxvh8W2Y



For Tiddalick the Frog: click here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y3Ta5xcKV4




For How the Clouds were Made: click here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNXxJ12yw_o