The School Library's role in including Indigenous Australian Voice in the English Curriculum K-10
Enabling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice to weave through the narratives of our classrooms is an important step to creating connections and understandings of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, experiences and diversity as we continue to journey towards a reconciled nation.
This session will provide insights, guidance and resources into embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voice through a diverse range of texts to strengthen all areas of the English curriculum, along with how the school library needs to be a critical component in supporting students and staff in developing culturally safe and responsive competencies when engaging with literature by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. During the session we will also touch on how to create culturally responsive practices when developing and maintaining your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collection of texts and other resources in your context. This topic is relevant for primary and secondary Teacher Librarians and Library staff.
About Rosalyn Thomas (Roz)
Rosalyn Thomas is a Dunghutti woman from Kempsey on the mid-north coast of NSW, who grew up and lives on Darug and Gundungurra Country in the Blue Mountains.
Rosalyn is the Senior Consultant for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education at the Association of Independent Schools of NSW, leading the Waratah Project across 30 schools along with providing support to all NSW independent schools to enhance educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and enable teachers to build confidence to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and languages across all curriculum areas.
With 12 years’ experience teaching in schools across Western Sydney in NSW, Rosalyn has taught in both mainstream and special needs classes, along with holding key school leadership and executive positions.
Rosalyn has a Master of Educational Leadership and a recipient of the NSW Quality Teaching Award for her work in building high-expectation relationships with Aboriginal students and their families within the Special Education context.
Suggested Standards addressed by this Online Meet-up
2.5.2 Apply knowledge and understanding of effective teaching strategies to support students’ literacy and numeracy achievement.
6.2.2 Participate in learning to update knowledge and practice targeted to professional needs and school and/or system priorities.
6.3.2 Contribute to collegial discussions and apply constructive feedback from colleagues to improve professional knowledge and practice.
7.4.2 Participate in professional and community networks and forums to broaden knowledge and improve practice.
Certificate of participation available via request to: info@slansw.net.au
About SLANSW Online Meet-Ups
The one-hour meet-ups take place in SLANSW's Zoom Conference Room and include a presentation from a guest speaker, with facilitated discussion between participants. We aim to include Q&A time as a wrap-up of each online meetup.
A maximum of 100 places are available for each meet-up, so get your registrations in ASAP.
Participation in SLANSW online meet-ups is at no cost to members. Non-members may access the meet-ups for $35 per session.
The one-hour meet-up takes place in SLANSW's Zoom conference room.
Those who register for this event will receive an email within 24 hours before the event, with details to access this online session.