This research guide from the State Library of Victoria contains an extensive range of resources about the life, culture, and traditions of the Aboriginal peoples of Victoria. Researchers are able to explore in a range of formats including books, pictures, maps, newspapers, and the like, and includes links to more subject-specific guides such as Victoria’s early history, 1803-1851.
State Library Victoria, 2019.
This documentary series by the ABC explores the Australian landscape with Indigenous Australians telling stories about their connection to country. Two of the episodes tell stories of Victorian country: “Timeless Macedon” is set on Wurundjeri country in Organ Pipes National Park, and “Rainforest & Rock” is set on Gadubanud country in the Otways.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Media Stockade Two, Threshold Pictures and Create NSW, 2021.
This guidebook explores the Indigenous past and present of Melbourne, identifying important historical and contemporary Aboriginal sites in the midst of the city today. Including maps and travelling instructions, this book enables the reader to understand the contribution of Indigenous peoples to Melbourne’s history and culture while exploring on foot or by bicycle.
Meyer Eidelson, 2nd edition, Aboriginal Studies, 2014.
This book contains four creation stories from four different Aboriginal groups in Victoria, including the Bunurong people. Stories are presented either in Aboriginal language with a translation, or with Aboriginal words interspersed throughout with a glossary for each story. The stories are short, interesting, and full of cultural historical knowledge.
Carolyn Briggs, David Tournier, Doreen Garvey-Wandin, and Lee Healy (Patterson-Edmonds). Arts Victoria, 2010.
The River of Language exhibition tells the story of the 44 Indigenous language groups of Victoria, exploring these languages in the context of culture, history, and knowledge. The interactive tour allows students to enter and navigate through the exhibit, listening to stories, language, and learning about culture from Indigenous Victorians.
Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Museums Victoria, 2021.
When deciding if an internet resource is authoritative and reliable, check the website domain. If the website domain is .gov or .edu, it can be a good indication of reliability. If the website ends in .org or .com, make sure to investigate the author or creator and purpose of the website before deciding to use it.
This virtual exhibition provides information about the culture and history of Aboriginal Victorians in the context of their art and artefacts. Including video content by the artists and stories about the artworks, this collection contains items from pre-colonial times through to the present day.
Curated by Koorie Heritage Trust / NGV Australia / State Library Victoria. Victorian Collections, 2014.
State and national libraries and museums can be a good place to look for collections of resources about specific places or historical events. Trove brings together collections from libraries, museums, universities, galleries, and archives all over Australia into one site, enabling the researcher to explore hundreds of collections with one search.
This collection of YouTube videos by the Royal Botanic Gardens explores Indigenous plants, traditional bushfoods, and their connection to Aboriginal heritage, culture, and country. The programs are presented at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne and Cranbourne by their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria.
Includes resources for Welcome to Country acknowledgements, links to various multimedia resources, and information about other organisations associated with teaching and supporting Aboriginal culture in Victoria. Information about protocols for teaching about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture is available on associated pages.
State Government of Victoria Department of Education and Training, November 2020.
When evaluating potential resources, it is important to consider the currency: how up-to-date is the resource and how important is that to the topic? Material for a curriculum needs to be current, accurate, and reflect best practices. Historical material does not need to be as current, although with Indigenous content it is important to consider how attitudes and behaviour have changed in recent decades.
Narragunnawali, a program of Reconciliation Australia (RA), provides resources to support students’ learning and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and history. Curriculum resources can be sorted by subject area or year and align to the cross-curriculum priorities. Professional learning resources are also available.
Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education, Reconciliation Australia.
This book provides an illustrated and accessible introduction to Aboriginal history and culture. It includes key concepts such as the Dreaming, significance of Country, activism, and reconciliation, as well as highlighting the significant contribution Aboriginal peoples and culture have made to Australia.
Bruce Pascoe, Aboriginal Studies Press, 4th edition, 2018.
AIATSIS has developed a suite of curriculum guides as resources to complement The Little Red Yellow Black Book. The resources have been specifically developed for secondary educators and link to the cross-curriculum priorities. Each resource includes worksheets, activities, instructions for the teacher, and suggestions for assessment.
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.
When searching for additional information, it can be helpful to check if relevant resources provide recommendations for further reading. Checking the reference section in a journal article, the bibliography in a book, or the further reading section on a website can lead to new sources.