Focus area 2.

4 Understand and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to promote reconciliation between
Indigenous and non- Indigenous Australians
Descriptor Demonstrate broad knowledge of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres strait Islander histories cultures and language.
Rationale Reconciliation is a long and many layered process, its meaning complex and multi-faceted. Reconciliation means knowing this
countrys history and acknowledging the bad as well as the good. It means understanding and embracing difference, of
language, of culture, of Law. Reconciliation is about ensuring that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have their rights
as the first peoples of this nation properly recognised and that recognition of those rights ensures them the same life chances as
other Australians. Reconciliation is about acknowledging the wrongs of the past and pledging as a nation to right them. -
Former Chair of NSW State Reconciliation Committee, Linda Burney, 1999
Examples
of
evidence
As part of Victoria University professional development week a workshop was given to better understand and
respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non-
Indigenous Australians. This workshop took the form of a lecture by Dr. Gary Foley, a Gumbaynggirr man and
Aboriginal rights activist. He shared his life story which involved overcoming the prejudice and shame put upon him
for being Aboriginal. After listening to his lecture I was motivated to find out more and went to the website that he
maintains called the Koori History website http://www.kooriweb.org. The group of Aboriginal peoples where Dr. Foley
is originally from maintain a website called Muurrbay Aboriginal Language and Culture Co-op
http://www.muurrbay.org.au/languages/gumbaynggirr/ . History was also feature in the 2012 VU Connections Winter
magazine (See attached exerpt)

The Australian goverments website concerning reconciliation explains the history and importance of reconciliation
http://australia.gov.au/about-australia/australian-story/reconciliation

These are valuable resource for helping in reconciliation and will help in my teaching and learning with my students
about Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander perspectives.