Australian Curriculum v9 - Cross-curriculum priority - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures

Country/Place

  • Positions First Nations Australians as the Traditional Owners of Country/Place and highlights how native title law recognises the rights and interests of both the First Peoples of Australia and the First Nations Peoples of the Torres Strait in Country/Place. 
  • Acknowledges the impacts of colonisation and the doctrine of terra nullius on First Nations Australians’ ownership of, and access to, Country/Place.

Culture

  • The First Peoples of Australia (Aboriginal Peoples) belong to the world’s oldest continuous cultures. First Nations Australians demonstrate resilience in the maintenance, practice and revitalisation of culture despite the many historic and enduring impacts of colonisation, and continue to celebrate and share the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures.
  • First Nations Australians’ ways of life reflect unique ways of being, knowing, thinking and doing.
    Clarifies that the cultures of First Nations Australians are not static and have internationally enshrined special rights that ensure they can be maintained, controlled, protected and developed.

People

  • Acknowledges the occupation of the Australian continent by the First Peoples of Australia for more than 60,000 years. 
    Examines the sophisticated social organisation systems, protocols, kinship structures and the significant contributions of First Nations Australians' histories and cultures on a local, national and global scale.