Indigenous teaching and learning
Swinburne is committed to employing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers to Indigenise and decolonise pedagogies, curricula and assessments across higher education and vocational education.
Our strategy
The Moondani Toombadool Centre embraces Indigenous knowledge systems and decolonising methodologies into educational practices. The centre provides resources and initiatives to promote understanding and engagement with Indigenous cultures, scholarly contributions and approaches to education
The Indigenous Teaching and Learning Strategy guides academic staff on embedding culturally safe practices across courses. It highlights the impact of personal worldviews on education, the necessity for ongoing self-reflection and the appropriate language terminology to use.
The strategy aims to foster respectful and equitable education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by addressing historical and societal injustices. Additionally, it includes a Cultural Warning to sensitively alert Indigenous students to potentially distressing content.
Moondani Toombadool Indigenous Higher Education Teaching and Learning Strategy
Indigenous Studies at Swinburne
The School of Social Science, Media, Film and Education offers Indigenous Studies as a major and a minor. The comprehensive major and minor aim to provide students with a thorough understanding of Indigenous cultures, histories and contemporary issues – enabling them to engage with Indigenous perspectives across various disciplines.
Examples of courses
The Indigenous Studies major is available within the Bachelor of Arts as single degree or double degree. The Indigenous Studies minor is available within multiple bachelor degrees, including those outside of arts.
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Bachelor of Arts, Major in Indigenous Studies
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Bachelor of Health Science / Bachelor of Arts
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Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts
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Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) / Bachelor of Arts
Examples of units
Across the six schools within Swinburne, the integration of Indigenous curriculum into courses holds significant importance in building inclusivity, cultural understanding and social justice as summarised in these units of study.
Core units
Other units
Employment opportunities
Swinburne offers various teaching positions across different disciplines in vocational education and higher education.
Professional development for staff
Swinburne offers professional development opportunities to actively involve academic and teaching staff from vocational education and higher education sectors in deepening their understanding of Indigenous knowledges, cultures and educational approaches, contributing to reconciliation efforts and promoting social justice in education.
Teaching in a dual sector university
We are committed to helping upskill and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples wanting to teach in the university space.
Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE)
This course equips participants to administer training and assessments within the vocational education and training sector. It covers competency-based assessments, designing learning programs, delivering presentations and facilitating training in workplace settings.
Graduate Certificate of Learning and Teaching (Higher Education)
Designed for those working in academic or academic support roles, this course focuses on creative approaches to curriculum design and delivery, including digital technologies and blended learning modes.
Swinburne and the Moondani Tombadool Centre offer a range of resources to support academic and teaching staff in creating a more equitable and inclusive educational landscape that values and respects the diversity of all learners.
Professional development
A module from the Koorie Heritage Trust Training is available to help deepen your understanding of Indigenous knowledges, cultures and educational approaches. For more information, please contact (Associate Professor, Indigenous Teaching and Learning).
Writing an Indigenous Acknowledgment page in Canvas
Learn how to integrate culturally safe practices into your course by incorporating an Indigenous Acknowledgment page in Canvas. This page emphasises the importance of understanding how one's worldview impacts teaching and learning, and highlights the need for lifelong critical self-reflection.
Indigenous Learning Circles
The Indigenous Learning Circles acknowledge Country and Traditional Owners by integrating aspects of Country, people, culture and art to provide a unity across our Croydon, Hawthorn and Wantirna campuses. Discover how to utilise the Indigenous Learning Circle as a gathering place for knowledge exchange and cultural engagement.
| Name | Position |
|---|---|
| Indigenous Research Fellow | |
| Professor, Indigenous Research Development | |
| Associate Professor, Indigenous Teaching and Learning |
Explore more
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Learning and teaching at Swinburne
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Moondani Toombadool Centre
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Indigenous spaces and places
Contact the Moondani Toombadool Centre
If you have any questions about our programs and services, feel free to reach out.