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Your
strategies: Cultural respect, recognition and support
— an essential part of forming an effective partnership.
These ideas are framed according to the relevant questions
in the earlier checklist.
Are
provisions in place for non-Indigenous staff to learn about
Indigenous cultures in general and local Indigenous cultures
in particular?
Have you tried…
- including relevant cross-cultural awareness programs in
your professional development program?
- inviting Indigenous speakers to talk to students and staff?
- taking tours guided by community members to important
local cultural sites?
Is
there a recognisable Indigenous 'presence' in the school or
institution in terms of teaching and employed support staff,
guests to the school and other support personnel?
Have you tried…
- employing Indigenous teachers, education and other workers?
- ensuring that all of them have opportunities for professional
development related to the actual nature of their work?
- maintaining one or more defined positions for Indigenous
parents?
- establishing arrangements for welcoming Indigenous parents
and carers when they come to school that they appreciate?
- offering Indigenous members of the community a space in
the school/College for their own use?
- taking tours guided by community members to important
local cultural sites?
Does
the school or institution recognise and express its respect
for the cultures of its Indigenous students in ways that are
acceptable to and appreciated by students and other members
of local communities?
Have you tried…
- displaying local Indigenous art and artefacts or other
public signs and symbols (the flags, murals, posters, charters,
land rights information and so on) that Indigenous people
appreciate and that are a sign of the institution's acknowledgment?
- seeking a 'welcome to country' from appropriate Indigenous
Elders to open formal school ceremonial occasions like speech
nights, presentations or assemblies to begin the school
year?
- arranging visits by or excursions to Indigenous dance
or music performances?
- auditing courses to ensure that they include appropriate
Indigenous perspectives?
- offering courses of study of one or more Indigenous language,
offering courses of study about Indigenous languages or,
where relevant, providing learning materials in the students'
own languages?
- reviewing library resources related to Australia's Indigenous
peoples for their coverage and adequacy?
Where they are desired by students, are arrangements in place
within the school/institution or with other schools/institutions
to develop a sense of cultural support and connectedness with
other Indigenous peers?
Have you tried…
- offering Indigenous students a space in the school/college
for their own use?
- developing ICTs-based networks of contact and support
for your Indigenous students with students in other locations?
- inviting Indigenous speakers to talk to students and staff?
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