Reflection: My Personal Indigenous Knowledge and Perspective

1. Previous Work: Crime Scene Examination

1.1. Exposure to Aboriginal Victims of Crime - typically were living in low socio-economic conditions with alcohol and violence impacting crime levels.

1.2. Worked out of an office that also included the Aboriginal Community Liaison Officer- often she could tell me who had committed the crime (because of her local contacts) before I attended the scene!

2. Current Studies: Master of Teaching Primary

2.1. Indigenous Pedagogies - 8 Ways; High Expectations Relationships

2.2. Cross-Curriculum Priority - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures - incorporation into curriculum KLAs

2.3. Principles of Inclusive Education - our teaching needs to ensure all students have access to the curriculum

2.4. AITSL Teaching Standards 1.4 & 2.4

2.5. STEM specialisation, Maths and English: Indigenous Australians struggling with achievement levels in these area - reported factually but reflect educational disadvantage of Indigenous students

2.6. EAL/D students - recognition in core English curriculum subjects that SAE is not the first language for many Indigenous students.

3. Previous Tertiary Studies: B. Science (Chemistry and Forensics)

3.1. No exposure to Indigenous knowledge or perspectives

4. Schooling

4.1. Primary School: Received my 1988 Bicentennial Medal. Remember a big celebration where we dressed as "first settlers" (sic) in old fashioned clothes. Captain Cook represented as a hero for making Australia what it was.

4.2. High School: School had a large Asian population, so there was a heavy focus on Asian culture. I recall studying global Indigenous cultures during Legal Studies but no specific focus on Australia's Indigenous peoples. I don't recall any Acknowledgements of Country - ever.

5. Personal and Social Experiences

5.1. Watching the movie 'Rabbit Proof Fence' - first awareness of Stolen Generation.

5.2. Bushwalking - Aboriginal rock carvings and art

5.3. Watching the 'Struggle Street' documentaries - Indigenous Australians typically portrayed with nomadic lifestyles and unable to fit into society/social issues.