That’s not really a surprise given my life-long love of books. I have always enjoyed poring through a book; reading the stories; studying the pictures and illustrations; appreciating the paper feel and smell…. I am one of those people who refuse to switch over to a digital reader, preferring to buy the real thing despite having run out of room for them years ago.

Wattleseed comes from wattle trees and it is just one part of the tree that Aboriginal people have been using in food and medicine for thousands of years. Traditionally, the seeds, roots, bark and gums of wattle trees were used not only to flavour food but in medicines for a range of mild ailments such as soothing itchy skin or easing mild pain.

Elders show us ways of being that have kept our cultures strong and they pass down the knowledge we need, sometimes even when we don’t know it. They give us life skills and culture skills but it is more than that - they show us ways of being, knowing and doing while boosting us when we need it; reminding us to be humble when we need that; and encouraging us to embrace culture to guide us through this life. It is hard to put the role of Elders into words because words don’t really seem enough.

This year we have an amazing prize pool valued at over $11,000 thanks to our very generous Challenge supporters. We often talk about the importance of allies and I am incredibly grateful to have connected with allies that not only support the Challenge but also support Aboriginal education all year round.

As a graduate, nearly 20 years ago, I arrived in a small mining and pastoral town for my first posting. I was fresh off my fourth-year units at university - including our “Aboriginal Education” unit - where we were told: “Aboriginal children outside of the city will communicate like this, don’t do this, don’t ask that…”.

It is NAIDOC Week!!! Time to celebrate our amazing First Nation communities and their cultures. I hope you are getting out and exploring the events that are happening in your local area!

This year’s NAIDOC theme is “For Our Elders”. I love that we are acknowledging the work our Elders do in our First Nations communities and the contributions they make to the lives of every Australian. They are our leaders; they guide us and support us and pass on knowledge so that culture continues.

Reconciliation is all about working together and we have teamed up with one of our favourite allies, Aaron Johnston from Mr J’s Learning Space to bring you an amazing resource for Reconciliation Week this year.

Aboriginal cultural awareness training is becoming an increasing priority for many Australian schools and workplaces. It is a reflection of the increasing recognition of the importance of cultural safety in the way organisations work – both internally and also in delivering services to Aboriginal communities.

Incorporating First Nations perspectives into your Easter activities is a great way to deepen students' appreciation for the richness and diversity of our culture.

This time of year, as we restock classroom supplies, there is a lot of conversation about where to buy Aboriginal education resources and other items - that is items that are about Aboriginal people, represent Aboriginal people or are items based on Aboriginal culture and authentic cultural expression. This conversation has gotten greater each year as awareness of the importance of buying Blak spreads, so I really like that the conversation is happening. It is a really important conversation.

Including First Nations resources and displays in your classroom is a great way to set the tone for the year. Not only is it beautiful, but this content is going to be a regular part of your teaching plan. Having artworks, books and other resources readily accessible to students is a good way to make sure you are embedding content.

So it is that time of year again. January 26th. Invasion Day. Survival Day. Australia Day. No matter what you call it, there is no escaping the exhausting, frustrating and often anger-inducing conversations that come with it.

​2023. Can you believe it is almost here? For most teachers the end of the school year means planning for the next year is high on your priority list.

Can you believe December is here already! For me, 2022 is the year that passed while I blinked. It has flown by in a flurry of activity. Never enough hours in a day and a never-ending list of things to do. I know this is a feeling that teachers can relate to.

​Aboriginal communities have been standing up for change ever since invasion. Not all change makers have highly public profiles. There are examples of people working for change on a local level in every community. There are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in your local community working every day towards change.