School Toolkit

It’s important to validate any worries and provide practical tools and advice to overcome these hurdles. The most important thing to remember is we won’t always get it right (and that’s okay), but what matters is that we’re on the journey, taking steps, making progress and we’re willing to listen and learn.

Here are a few places we’d suggest you use to get started:

1. Learn about appropriate language and terminology using our guide. Remember that there usually isn’t one correct way: individuals may have their own preferences, and what’s ‘appropriate’ differs depending on context, location and other factors. If you’re not sure, it’s always best to ask.
2. Learn about cultural appropriation, to help you understand your role in building appreciation for First Nations cultures. You can access some resources on this via the Creative Equity Toolkit.
3. Start to learn what’s culturally appropriate in your local area and context. This may involve learning about local People groups or Traditional Custodians, and understanding more about local context and history. From here, you can also start to attend events and follow people and organisations online to get a sense of the discussions and how certain topics are approached.
4. Support and equip teachers to handle any tricky conversations they may encounter in the classroom or beyond (for example, with parents who disagree with teaching material).