The truth is that Australia is home to the world’s oldest continuous cultures. Truth matters. And passionate educators, who guide jarjums (children) with their learning, are an invaluable influence on acknowledging and fostering a deep understanding that white Australia does in fact have a black history. Now, I can say the word ‘black’ because I am, and the only reason I have written it in this article is because it is part of our true history, which is not shared enough, and too often not acknowledged or listened to.
We usually only ever hear and learn about the colonial history, which started around 200 years ago, but nothing before that, nothing acknowledging my people are the First People of this continent and that our sovereignty was never ceded:
Sovereignty can mean many different things. At its most basic, it is about ideas of power and authority.
(ANTaR, 2022)
A vision for shared truth
Everyone across our continent must learn our truth so they know who we all are, what happened, what is still happening and what their responsibility is moving forward.
As ANTaR states: “The concept of terra nullius - land belonging to no one - was one of the earliest colonial ‘truths’ used to legitimise the invasion of First Nations land, and the dispossession, murder and removal of First Nations Peoples.” (ANTaR, 2024)
As educators, you must, first and foremost, be open to your own ongoing cultural learning journey where you deeply listen to what First Nations people share with you.
You must unlearn, learn, relearn and grow in various and purposeful ways to make meaningful impact across our communities and our sector. And if you think it is too hard or confronting then imagine how hard and confronting it is for us who are constantly dismissed and judged due to our identity and the colour of our skin, because this is our reality here today!
‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’ is mentioned 82 times in the EYLF V2.0 (2022), offering guiding statements to educators in navigating a way forward in our reconciliation journey.
The vision of the EYLF V2.0 is: “All children engage in learning that promotes confident and creative individuals and successful lifelong learners. All children are active and informed members of their communities with knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.” (p.6)
We need educators with a growth mindset who are open to sharing the colonial load. This is the “load placed knowingly and unknowingly on First Nations people by Settlers and Institutions. It includes biases, assumptions, expectations and entitlement held by Settlers.” (Weenthunga Health Network, 2023).
Sharing the load can be both powerful and purposeful. It is much overdue and needed, helping us to share facts, raise awareness on current systemic issues such as racism, inequity and power imbalance that keeps us from living the life that everyone else does here in the lucky country. You must understand there is no finish line, this is not a race, it is an ongoing journey of learning and change to bring our future generations together, because they deserve so much better!
Start with listening and connection
Work smarter, not harder, and start with the First Nations people in your circle. Whether they are personal or professional connections, make time to acknowledge/greet and yarn with them, strengthen your connections over time through consistent yarns to learn more but don’t bombard them with questions instead listen to understand exactly what they are sharing with you, because they feel safe to do so.
Ensure you are ALWAYS culturally welcoming and safe in your approach so that we feel safe to connect and share with you. Also don’t assume you know who we are or what we feel, and definitely don’t speak for us. We are more than capable of speaking for ourselves.
Bringing truth into your service
If you don’t know any First Nations People, then attend our local community events to learn about us. Stop and have a cuppa and engage with us, participate in community meetings where we are present and sit with us. It is through these three simple acts you will connect and learn so much more. You will also strengthen your connections and eventually be able to invite us into your centre space where we can share with your team and jarjums. There will also be a flow on effect as our mob are connected to each other and will bring in others such as Elders, Knowledge Holders, artists, storytellers, cooks, and dancers. Remember connection is key and without it you have nothing!
Online, there are authentic truth telling websites that share from our point of view (see the ones shared at the end of this article to start you off). ALWAYS learn through First Nations channels and allies that walk with us. To keep up to date and be informed follow our Leaders’ social media pages or read our newspapers Indigenous Times and Koori Mail or watch ABC, NITV or SBS free to air TV channels. To go deeper, watch our movies, read our books, listen to our music and podcasts.
Research culturally responsive professional development and if you have the opportunity, participate locally, as it is raw, hands on and meaningful. If you can’t do it locally then look at reviews about those offered online or attend a State or National conference that has an authentic cultural lens woven throughout the content that is presented by First Nations Leaders.
Remember, if jarjums are exposed to the truth they will then have a much better understanding of their own identity as well as that of their peers. They are curious and we must engage with them in a most honest, respectful and age-appropriate manner while we have them. As a First Nations jarjum, I grew up strong in my identity due to my mob always sharing our truth with me. This gave me an understanding of where my Old People come from and prepared me for the barriers I face in life as a First Nations human in my own Country.
Different ways to share:
- Provide factual literature in your centre eg. books in the reading area for jarjums and story time; newspapers in the team staffroom; keeping families informed on your cultural journey.
- Play First Nations music in the background so children can hear various languages and instruments.
- Connect with Elders or Knowledge Holders who can come in and share knowledge through a yarning circle, story time or hands on cultural activities.
- Connect with an artist to do a workshop or collaborate on an artwork with your jarjums and team that shares the significance about the Country you live and learn on.
- Connect with a local school whose big jarjums can come and visit your little ones. This can be a positive and rewarding project for the big jarjums and will assist in buddies and transition for your little ones at the end of the year. Jarjums should be mentors and role models when they come and play during outside time or whilst participating during inside time activities.
- Connect with a local dance troupe through a school or community.
- Connect with your First Nations families over a yarn-up where you can also invite them in to share their knowledge/truth/skills.
References
ANTaR. (2024, July 10). History of truth-telling in Australia. https://antar.org.au/issues/truth-telling/history-of-truth-telling-in-australia/
ANTaR. (2022). Sovereignty Factsheet. https://antar.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Sovereignty-Factsheet.pdf
Australian Government Department of Education [AGDE] (2022). Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (V2.0). Australian Government Department of Education for the Ministerial Council.
Narragunnawali. (n.d.). Terminology guide. Retrieved October 26, 2023, from https://www.narragunnawali.org.au/about/terminology-guide
Weenthunga Health Network. (2023, November 16). [Instagram post on ‘colonial load’].
Further reading and resources
NAIDOC Week 2026: 50 years of deadly by Deborah Hoger
CELA's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural page, curated by Lisa Walker
National First Nations Education Conference 2026 with TIPIAC and Deborah Hoger
About Lisa
Lisa Walker is a proud Galibal woman from Bundjalung Country, Far North Coast, NSW and has ties to the Yuin, Yaegl and Gubbi Gubbi Nations.
Lisa has worked across the ECEC sector for the past twenty years in local, State, National and Global roles and currently holds a portfolio of Cultural Advisor roles, that promote an authentic understanding of her Peoples diverse ways of knowing, being and doing.
Lisa is grounded in connection to both her Country and mob and advocates for much needed change for her people through grassroots two-way respectful engagement. She believes all jarjums (children) deserve the same opportunities to belong, learn, thrive and succeed in life and it is our role as big people to guide them through this, after all they are our future generations.