NT Minister for Education announces Life Ed's indigenous education resources
Wednesday, 8 May 2024
Life Education NT, in collaboration with the Northern Territory Minister for Education, The Hon. Mark Monaghan, proudly announces the launch of culturally appropriate Indigenous Education resources, to support the learning and empowerment of young Indigenous Australians. Developed through extensive consultation and community engagement, these resources aim to reflect the specific needs, challenges, and demographics of Indigenous communities and their youth.
The suite of educational resources aim to authentically reflect Indigenous perspectives and experiences, whilst being a medium to be utilised during Life Ed’s preventative health and wellbeing education program, empowering students with the knowledge and skills to navigate a range of pertinent issues including nutrition, physical activity, personal safety, positive decisions around alcohol and other drugs.
The consultation process, marked by meaningful engagement at every developmental phase, was fundamental to this initiative. It encompassed community forums, educational lessons, and consultations with elders, families, Stakeholders and youth to ensure cultural appropriateness and responsiveness to community needs.
Remote communities, such as Lajamanu, Kalkarindji, Dugaragu, Yarralin, Pigeon Hole, Bulla, Timber Creek, and Kildurk, actively contributed to the project’s development. Furthermore, Gunbalanya, Beswick, Barunga, and Katherine High School students were actively engaged, providing invaluable insights to shape the resources. These collective efforts honour Indigenous knowledge, values, and ways of life, thereby nurturing a stronger cultural identity and empowerment among young Indigenous Australians.
The suite of educational aids developed includes:
- 30 vox pops covering a range of health education topics, including physical health, safety, and social and emotional wellbeing.
- 9 animations serving as conversation starters to engage students in meaningful discussions.
- 15 story wheels designed for multiple uses, including conversation starters, posters, visual cues, acting activities, and storytelling.
- 1 board game, 1 Learning Mat and 14 sets of flashcards fostering cross-cultural learning and providing educators with flexible tools to enrich their teaching sessions.
The Territory has a diverse population with diverse needs, which is why it so important to continue to develop brand new learning resources which provide more pathways to success through culturally appropriate education for indigenous students.
Life Education NT acknowledges that while these resources are initially designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, they can be adapted and integrated into broader educational contexts to benefit all students.
“12 schools and community groups from around the NT and Remote Queensland have participated in the Life Ed program utilising the new resources. As an organisation, we are proud to be leading with best-practice consultation processes and community engagement in co-designing education resources that aim to authentically reflect the stories, needs and identities of young Indigenous Australians, and empower them to lead life to their full potential.” says Terese Hooper, Executive Director of Life Ed NT
For more information about the Indigenous Education resources developed by Life Education NT, and to book the Life Ed program, visit www.lifeed.org.au
