First Nations, Gender, Migration explored in online learning program

Aimed at teachers, students and those interested in education, Australian Perspectives: First Nations, Gender, Migration will launch on 24 January 2022.

The program aligns with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and will count towards teachers’ professional learning for 2022.

Australian Perspectives: First Nations, Gender, Migration is based on first-person narratives. It will include keynote addresses from commentator, actor and Indigenous woman Steph Tisdell; author and historian Professor Clare Wright OAM; and author Saroo Brierley, whose bestselling autobiography A Long Way Home was adapted into the feature film Lion. These speakers share stories of the defining moments that have shaped their lives and identities.

The program will also include three sessions that delve deeper into the three program themes: First Nations, gender and migration. Each session will focus on a theme and feature one of our guest speakers: Nathaniel Tamwoy, Nevo Zisin and Professor Munjed Al Muderis. These sessions will also include panel discussions with Australian teachers and students and Museum experts examining the content’s relevance to the Australian Curriculum and classroom practice.

Tina Brandt, Head of Visitor Experience and Commercial Operations at the National Museum, said: “In 2020 the National Museum launched Australia’s Defining Moments Digital Classroom, which offers a range of free online learning resources for teachers and students, aligned with the Australian Curriculum. Its purpose is to ensure access equity for schools across Australia.

“Within the Digital Classroom there is an evolving timeline of key events in Australia’s history that have impacted and shaped our nation. To further explore these defining moments, we have created Australian Perspectives: First Nations, Gender, Migration, the first digital professional learning program for teachers of its kind.”

On Monday 24 January 2022, Steph Tisdell, Clare Wright and Saroo Brierley will tell their stories and respond to questions sent in by teachers around Australia. During this session, Museum educators will be online to answer questions about how this content can be used in the classroom. The three sessions exploring the program themes will be available immediately following the keynote addresses.

The program is sponsored by the Gandel Foundation. Register now at: digital-classroom.nma.gov.au/australian-perspectivesnma.gov.au