Leading Australian First Nations Education

The core focus is to prepare school leaders and teachers to lead change in diverse Aboriginal contexts by examining local, national and international education research evidence in culturally responsive pedagogies. Drawing upon Critical leadership Studies, Australian Aboriginal education theory and culturally responsive pedagogical theoretical frameworks, the course investigates how Indigenous peoples maintain and revitalize local languages and cultural knowledges as they relate to teaching and learning. Students  will acquire knowledge of culturally responsive leadership approaches for appropriate teaching and learning practices that include: rejecting deficit views of learners, setting high expectations of teachers with a commitment to all student’s success; engages multiple knowledges and multiple literacies;  leadership support for teachers classroom practices that validates student’s culture; school systems and structures that bridges gaps between school and home;  commitment to whole school approach to culturally responsive instructional strategies.  A key focus is to ensure equity and diversity and that social exclusion in education is addressed via building school structures and cultures that engages and support the identities, knowledges and epistemologies of Aboriginal students and the local community. This focus is aimed at addressing Australian inequity for a positive national future.