About This Program.
Empower To Teach gives non-Indigenous teachers permission to teach. It is not a definitive program but simply starts the conversation and points teachers to what others are doing and what other resources are available.
Sunset between Broken Hill and Wilcannia, NSW (Glenn Loughrey, 2021)
This program is an overview of the story and needs still to be underpinned by local stories and cultural information provided by local elders. Where possible contact details of such groups are provided but we would strongly suggest teachers ensure that local people tell the local story.
Empower To Teach provides a framework for teaching stages in early childhood, primary and high school , and is in line with the requirements of the Australian Curriculum and Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF). Each level consists of teaching outlines, sample lesson plans, and a list of resources suitable for use.
Empower To Teach invites teachers to collaborate and share what they have been doing, what they have found helpful and suggestions to improve the engagement with both the subject and students.
We are grateful for the support given by the Anglican Board of Mission and the National Council of Churches who made this project possible. Support is required to ensure this site fulfils its purpose to empower teachers to teach.
An initiative of learning.
Empower to Teach is an initiative of St Oswald’s Anglican Church (Glen Iris, Vic) under the leadership of Wiradjuri man Glenn Loughrey and a team of experienced teachers, the program writers Hannah Schaub and Winifred Madigan. You can learn more about our team here.
St Oswald’s has been instrumental in developing a specific set of approaches to reconciliation through such as the Wominjeka Reconciliation built on a disused tennis court and the provision of classroom and cultural support to local schools including Korowa Anglican Girls’ School, St Michael’s Primary School Ashburton, Glen Iris Primary School, Sacre Coeur and Solway Primary School.
As a result of this engagement over a number of years Empower to Teach has been developed in response to repeated requests from teachers for permission to delve into the story of indigenous people and this country. We invite you to explore our teaching resources and we welcome your feedback.
“When Cook Sneezed” - Artwork by Glenn Loughrey
Some guidelines for teaching this program.
Respect knowledge.
Explore but do not appropriate. Knowledge is the intellectual property of a people and needs to be respected. Set up a safe space for learning, questions and feedback.
Engage elders.
Engage with community elders for protocols and local knowledge. This is not to avoid doing the teaching yourself, but to add value to your teaching. Allow time for elder engagement.
Explore self-learning opportunities.
Learning can be gained through books, videos and local elder run events. Remember: This is where you begin, not where you finish. Opt for content in a variety of mediums.
Empower students.
Seek to stretch both the students and you. Yarning is a key indigenous educational tool. Allow your yarning to fill both you and the students up equally.
Be courageous.
Do not be afraid of getting it wrong. We are all learning. If your intention is to tell the truth, you will not intentionally cause harm. Trust your instincts.
Embrace the hard stuff.
Don't avoid the hard stuff. Explore the whole story. Children are not as fragile as we sometimes believe. They know the world is a tough place. It is tough for them sometimes. Tell the whole story and allow them to process it with you.
