Learn about ‘The Australian Wars’ with Culture is Life’s educational resources!
The story of Australia’s longest and perhaps most defining war has been kept silent – until now!
The ground-breaking three-part documentary series gives voice to the story of The Australian Wars – the battles fought on home soil, as the colonial frontier pushed forward, and First Nations peoples resisted. This is our longest and perhaps most defining war that established the Australian nation. The second episode features Uncle Rodney Dillon, a Palawan Elder and Amnesty International Australia’s Indigenous Rights Advisor!
Culture is Life have produced extensive curriculum aligned resources for Years 10-12, freely accessible on Culture is Life’s website! Amnesty International Australia is partnering with Culture is Life to amplify these important educational resources to our Amnesty Groups network!
Classroom ready short clips with aligned resources for Levels 9-12 can be accessed also on SBS Learn including essential Cultural Considerations for teachers before delivering in the classroom.
The Australian Wars Education Resources analyse the documentary, explore the ongoing impacts of colonisation and highlight historical perspectives. The resources will also provide an insight into the immense value that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander oral histories possess, with a focus on local history, and encourage schools to engage with their local communities for further learning opportunities.
We recognise that the content in the series and resources is sensitive and will evoke strong emotions in viewers. These are necessary emotions to face in the process of reckoning with our shared histories. We endeavour to build duty of care, cultural care and cultural safety into all our design and processes with this work, and we aspire to these values being carried forward by all our partners in this critical work of change, justice and healing.
Before undertaking this unit of work and considering your term planning around this series, please watch this video from Shelley Ware, a Yankunyjatjara and Wirangu woman and Culture is Life’s educator behind this resource. In the video, Shelley talks about how to prepare yourself and your students to engage with The Australian Wars within a culturally safe teaching environment and carefully structured learning plans.
We highly encourage you to watch the series and engage with the educational resources with your Amnesty Group! If you have any questions, please reach out to us at activism@amnesty.org.au.
If you are looking for more resources to help you and your Amnesty Group take action and support Amnesty’s Indigenous Rights campaigns, you can find them here.
Why not host a screening while you’re at it?
Last month, Amnesty International Australia’s Indigenous Rights team launched a new film club, Firestick Flicks, as part of our NAIDOC celebrations.
This monthly film club aims to encourage Amnesty activists, staff, and supporters to watch First Nations films and documentaries, by providing supporting resources, discussion prompts, and reflections to foster deep learning and understanding on the path to reconciliation. We will be focusing on films that are free to access on ABC iView or NITV/SBS On Demand, so that everyone can get involved!
This month’s Firestick Flicks film is The Australian Wars – specifically Episode 2, focusing on the Tasmanian Frontier Wars (featuring Uncle Rodney Dillon)!
