Overview
This innovative, multifaceted course, Sounds of Country, focuses on culturally responsive pedagogy and practice, mainly within primary education, but also applies to early childhood and secondary education. The program will commence with an emergent On Country experience guided by Traditional Owner/s designed to connect participants’ relational understanding of their local school’s connection to place through the Boorn (tree) methodology. This pivotal juncture is an ideal starting point, encouraging participants to reflect on their personal and school context of place and country. The journey is guided by the protocols of Aboriginal knowledge and histories grounded in the Country.
Why is the course for you
Guided by the rich histories of Aboriginal knowledge and history, this short course offers a journey that is firmly rooted in the wisdom of the land itself. It is designed to help you cultivate more inclusive and impactful culturally responsive teaching practices. Through the innovative Boorn (Stand of Trees) methodology, you will deepen your understanding of the profound connection between our schools and the lands they inhabit.
Course overview
This three-day short course is guided by Traditional Owners/Elders by way of decolonising participants view and knowledge of Country alongside Aboriginal histories and cultures. The sessions are based on Indigenous methodologies of Dadirri, yarning and relationships. Highly experienced facilitators will deliver and model culturally responsive pedagogies through immersive and engaging practices.
Online Coaching Sessions
Following Day One and Day Two, a one hour online reflective yarning session will be available for participants. In each of these sessions’ participants will be able to yarn through their practice, progress and challenges when infusing Aboriginal knowledges and content in their local context (educational setting).
Learning outcomes
As a result of this short course, you will have greater capacity to:
- Critically reflect on your culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP) in enacting AITSL standards 1.3, 1.4, 2.4, 3.4 and cross-curricular priority Aboriginal and Torres Islander histories and cultures relational to your context;
- Critically reflect on your notions and understanding of Country and its contextual connection to sense of place, identity and belonging;
- Empower and enrich your own and your students’ cultural, historical and contemporary knowledge of Country/Place, Aboriginal peoples and cultures and your local community; and
- Incorporate and build your understanding of culturally appropriate knowledges and teaching strategies across all learning areas in the curriculum.
Course Details
Dates: Saturday 7 June, Saturday 14 June & Saturday 28 June 2025
Location: ECU Mount Lawley campus - Day one starts at Kaarta Koomba (Kings Park).
Time: 9am – 3pm
Cost: $2187.00 including GST (catering, materials and online coaching sessions)
10% discount is offered to ECU alumni and for multiple bookings from the same organisation. Please contact education_shortcourses@ecu.edu.au to access your discount code prior to paying online.
Group bookings cannot be processed online. To pay by invoice please contact education_shortcourses@ecu.edu.au
About the facilitators
Dr Libby Jackson-Barrett is the Associate Dean, Senior Lecturer and Researcher for Kurongkurl Katitjin, Centre for Indigenous Australian Education and Research; and the School of Education at Edith Cowan University. Working as an interdisciplinary scholar in the tertiary sector for 20 years, Libby’s research explores factors that promote and develop successful outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in education, with a particular interest in culturally response practices in teaching and working alongside Aboriginal peoples and communities on Indigenous education matters.
Associate Professor Matt Byrne is the Associate Dean (Primary) for the School of Education at Edith Cowan University. Matt is an experienced teacher, teacher educator and researcher. His research interests are in Aboriginal education, educational leadership and how health and education work together particularly for the mutual benefit of disadvantaged communities. Matt is an Honorary Research Fellow with the Telethon Kids Institute in Western Australia.
Associate Professor Helen Adam is a Course Coordinator and researcher at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia. Helen’s research focuses on socially just, equitable education through culturally responsive pedagogy, including use of authentically diverse and inclusive literature to break down barriers of prejudice and misunderstanding in society. Helen employs a critical theoretical approach to examine ways in which literature and education mediate messages children receive about their cultures and roles in society.
For more information, please contact education_shortcourses@ecu.edu.au
