Education News!
Draft Indigenous Languages Teaching and Employment Strategy
First Languages Australia has collated advice and expertise from the National Indigenous Languages Teaching and Employment Forum held in Adelaide in 2016 into a Draft Indigenous Languages Teaching and Employment Strategy. The draft strategy has been sent to departmental staff, training partners and forum participants for their feedback before prioritising actions. The document can be downloaded here. Feedback will be collated into a final document for distribution in 2018.
The Masters of Indigenous Language Education (MILE) turns 10
2018 is the tenth anniversary of the MILE program run by the University of Sydney run by the University of Sydney. This important program is designed for Indigenous educators who wish to develop their knowledge and skills as teachers and specialise in teaching their language/s.
First Languages Australia would once again like to congratulate the University of Sydney for their ongoing commitment to Indigenous language teacher development in the provision of this program. We would particularly like to thank the program’s dedicated coordinating and teaching staff who continue to enliven the program and work tirelessly to advocate for and support the teachers who enroll, tailoring the course to meet their needs.
"The MILE course has taken me to a deeper level of understanding / appreciation of my language and equipped me with necessary skills to move forward with confidence. More importantly, I am able to share the knowledge I have learnt from completing the course with my Mob, so as a community we can all contribute and make positive gains to bring our language back to its rightful place of everyday use.
The course itself was both exciting and challenging! I feel a greater sense of direction coming to the end the course and realise that whilst my language journey will continue into the years ahead, I now have extra skills and knowledge to do so with confidence."
Jajinyji, Nathan Schrieber. Yarrabah State School
2017 MILE Graduates
Western Australia Traineeship for Language Teachers
2017 has seen continued interest and enrolment in the WA Department of Education Traineeship for Aboriginal Languages Teachers. There is currently a total of 36 trainees: 18 who have completed Stage 1 and 2 ( Intake 17) and 18 who have completed Orientation for Intake 18. The traineeship, which has been running successfully for more than twenty years, is the only training program that provides community members with a pathway to teaching their languages independently in the classroom.
First Languages Australia is advocating for each state and territory to adopt such a model. First Languages Australia would like to acknowledge Coleen Sherratt and Lola Jones for their ongoing commitment to the development and delivery of the program and the support of each of their trainees and teachers.
WA Aboriginal language teacher trainees
WA Aboriginal language teacher trainees
WA Aboriginal language teacher trainees
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) has implemented a curriculum based on the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority’s Framework for Aboriginal Languages and Torres Strait Islander Languages. The Victorian Aboriginal Languages curriculum is now being taught across the state with over 1,000 Victorian students participating in Aboriginal language programs. VCAA also produced ‘Learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures’ which outlines the mandatory content descriptions relating to Aboriginal perspectives across the curriculum.
Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority
The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority has developed a Short Course in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Languages for students in the senior phase of learning, i.e. Years 10, 11 and 12. The teaching and assessment for the Short Course is designed to be delivered over 55 hours, whether as a one-semester unit or spread over a number of semesters. Schools may implement this syllabus at any stage during the senior phase of learning as part of an individualised learning program or as a stand-alone Short Course.
Short Courses contribute one credit toward a Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). Results in these subjects do not contribute to Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) calculations.
The Short Course in Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Languages may be implemented from 2019 onwards. Details regarding professional development opportunities and implementation support for the redeveloped Short Course syllabuses will be provided in 2018.
For further information please email adminseniorcurriculum@qcaa.qld.edu.au.
