The truth will set Australia free

AUSTRALIAN schools can now incorporate teachings about the country’s Stolen Generations history into their curriculum through a new resource kit spearheaded by The Healing Foundation.

Grants of up to $500 to support the facilitation of the program are available to schools across the country, with the aim to bring truth telling about First Nations peoples to the classroom.

The funds will be put toward age appropriate lesson plans that include the option for schools to receive book bundles with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander literature.

Professor Steve Larkin, chair of The Healing Foundation, said the grants would support schools to engage students in learning about Australia’s past.

“We’ve seen a national shift in perception around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues and this is being driven, in part, by a thirst for more Indigenous knowledge at the school level.

“Parents understand their children’s desire to know more about the true history of Australia and the schools kit is a great way to educate our kids and we’re seeing that flow on to mum and dad.

“We all share the same past and understanding our common history and rewriting the story in a safe way means that together we take some of the stigma out of the narrative.”

The Stolen Generations Resource Kit for Teachers and Students was developed by The Healing Foundation in consultation with Stolen Generations survivors, teachers, parents and curriculum writers.

It includes suggested lesson plans for Foundation Year through to Year 9 as well as professional learning tools for teachers.

Each year level includes four activities that can be taught over a day, week, month or term, mapped to the Australian curriculum.

Grant applications close on April 15. To find out more or apply, head to healingfoundation.org.
au/schools.