AusVELS
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures is a cross-curriculum priority in AusVELS.
It is aimed to be included in English, maths, science and history. (Vitorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority)
There is no reason why the cross-curriculum priority couldn't be extended to other learning areas such as Languages. It is a first step in the right directions but the structure of the curriculum is very Eurocentric and the learning model is generally based on the Western tradition. It could be interesting to implement ways of teaching that would give more space to alternative ways of schooling and that would give place to such models like the "two way learning" that you can find in America and that is getting momentum in other provinces. This website gives practical support for EAL/D teachers in Western Australia and may be a good starting point to explore this possibility:
Tracks to Two-Way Learning
Another point that I would like to put forward is the double meaning of some of the language used in the AusVELS, which show the real importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders cultures. The fact that English has its own learning area while Aboriginal Languages are hidden under the learning area of Languages. It's a way of claiming in a way that English is the language of Australia and that the others are not as important. I think that in the future it should be changed or at least there should be a learning area called Languages of Australia which incorporate all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders languages and English. Maybe it will happen when we will reintegrate the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders in the Constitution and that we will acknowledge the fact that they have a Constitutional right and have the Constitutional protection to practice their cultures and that they have an unique identity as Australia's First People.
Also listen to this interview with another Pre-Service student and her experience teaching in a remote area.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures is a cross-curriculum priority in AusVELS.
It is aimed to be included in English, maths, science and history. (Vitorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority)
There is no reason why the cross-curriculum priority couldn't be extended to other learning areas such as Languages. It is a first step in the right directions but the structure of the curriculum is very Eurocentric and the learning model is generally based on the Western tradition. It could be interesting to implement ways of teaching that would give more space to alternative ways of schooling and that would give place to such models like the "two way learning" that you can find in America and that is getting momentum in other provinces. This website gives practical support for EAL/D teachers in Western Australia and may be a good starting point to explore this possibility:
Tracks to Two-Way Learning
Another point that I would like to put forward is the double meaning of some of the language used in the AusVELS, which show the real importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders cultures. The fact that English has its own learning area while Aboriginal Languages are hidden under the learning area of Languages. It's a way of claiming in a way that English is the language of Australia and that the others are not as important. I think that in the future it should be changed or at least there should be a learning area called Languages of Australia which incorporate all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders languages and English. Maybe it will happen when we will reintegrate the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders in the Constitution and that we will acknowledge the fact that they have a Constitutional right and have the Constitutional protection to practice their cultures and that they have an unique identity as Australia's First People.
Also listen to this interview with another Pre-Service student and her experience teaching in a remote area.