Education Disparities Notes

Education Disparities

Acknowledgement of Country

• Acknowledges the Darug, Tharawal, Gandangarra, and Wiradjuri peoples.
• Recognizes that Western Sydney University campuses are built on First Nations land.
• Expresses respect and humility while learning on traditional land.
• Thanks Traditional Owners for their support.
• Endeavors to positively fulfill responsibility as Custodian of Country.

Disclaimers

• Spoken and written disclaimers regarding deceased persons.
• Some content may disturb viewers due to sensitive concepts like family dislocation from the Stolen Generation and trans-generational trauma.
• Photographs, film images, voice recordings, names, and/or references may be made to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who may be deceased.

Acknowledgement of Country: Significance

• Difference between Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country.
• Western Sydney University acknowledges that lectures and tutorials are held on the country of the Darug People of the Darug Nation.
• Acknowledges the Darug People's ancestors who have been Traditional Owners for thousands of years.
• Respectful presence on the land necessitates knowing the Traditional Owners.
• Acknowledging the rightful Custodians who are believed to still be present in their Country.

Social and Economic Justice

• Australia has not yet agreed on the best way for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to achieve social and economic justice.
• Specifically, the role and responsibilities of education systems under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the International Labour Organisation’s Convention No. 169.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander citizens are still not equals with non-Indigenous Australians.
• Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children enter the schooling system with preconceived negative stereotypes due to the historically destructive force of schooling.
• Recent improvements are insufficient to nullify past educational experiences when developing solutions for the future.
• Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Consultation Regarding: Improving Teaching in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education: National Professional Standards for Teachers Standards Focus Areas 1.4 and 2.4: 9 September 2012. p17
• Notions of "EDUCATION" are many

Historical Exclusion

• Aboriginal students excluded from school. ABC News 7.30 By Catherine Marciniak Updated 14 Dec 2017, 1:05pm
• School history research uncovers time when Aboriginal students were excluded from Baryulgil - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation).
• Harry Mundine, grandfather of Olympic boxer Tony Mundine, protested the exclusion and hired a solicitor but the appeal failed.
• National newspapers covered the story in late 1935, highlighting the