First Nations’ Learners – Carmen Pofandt

First Nations learners who are they? In Australia our First Nations learners are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

To successfully teach Indigenous students it is important to learn a little about their culture, to not inadvertently disrespect them or their culture.

This map of Australia attempts to depict the language, social/nation groups of the indigenous people. As can be seen here there were many different clans, all of whom had different languages, customs and dialects (AIATSIS, 2024). They are the world’s oldest surviving culture and continue to survive, adapt and thrive in today’s environment.

When teaching Indigenous students, it is important to remember that they all suffer from intergenerational trauma and many of them suffer from differing amounts of hearing loss. Intergenerational trauma is caused when the trauma of the past is passed down the generations. We must acknowledge that in the beginning when Australia was young the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were colonized, and they were mistreated and misunderstood. Their way of life was destroyed and for most this torment has been passed down to their children and it is evident even today, that this is now part of their identity and their past, and so, as to not forget, the pain is shared in stories and the suffering continues. One-way Australian education is working towards a better future for these students is by incorporating their way of learning into the Australian curriculum through the Cross-curriculum priorities and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Strategy of 2015, which outlines eight expectations for schools and teachers which underpin the vision statement which states, “All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people achieve their full learning potential, are empowered to shape their own futures, and are supported to embrace their culture and identity as Australia’s First Nations peoples.” (Australian Government Department of Education, 2017).

The 8 Ways pedagogy which was developed with the help of Dr. Tyson Yunkaporta is an Indigenous inspired pedagogy which illustrates and demonstrates the many ways of successfully educating Indigenous students in a way in which they comprehend. This pedagogy as shown here incorporates Indigenous ways of thinking and doing and showcases

the links each segment makes with the other (8 Ways, n.d.). Indigenous students also learn best with a holistic view of the world. A Jirribal Elder named Uncle Ernie Grant has come up with a teaching and learning framework which can be embedded into the Australian curriculum as seen here (Queensland Government, 2022).