Around the Classrooms 

Year 7 Drama - Aboriginal Storytelling 

(RAP Deliverable: Opportunities with Community Local Sites, Events and Excursions)

Students in Year 7 Drama began their year learning about movement and voice and are now finishing the term by experiencing some of the more technical aspects of Theatre. Focusing on set design, they have taken inspiration from their school environment, and spent time on Country with Aboriginal storytellers Jamie Graham-Blair, Jake Brown and Carleeta Thomas. Each class has had their own opportunity to accompany them, walking around the Austins Ferry campus while hearing stories and details of how Tasmanian Aboriginal people cared for the land and thrived for thousands of years. They heard about the animals, Aboriginal lore, and some of the incredible feats and daily challenges for the First People as they stood amongst the revitalised surroundings of the bush and the river. Returning to class, the students discussed the elements of their story-walk, using these perspectives as inspiration to begin creating their own set designs.

Thank you, Jamie, Jake and Carleeta for generously sharing your wisdom, stories, and understandings with our Year 7 Drama students.

Year 9 History - From Gumnuts to Buttons

(RAP Deliverable: Relationships around the School Cultural Competence for Students)

Throughout the last few weeks of Term 2 the year 9 History students have been learning about the history of lutruwita Tasmania from the perspective of Aboriginal people. Beginning by exploring the history and culture of the Nine Nations they researched Tasmanian Aboriginal technologies, food, medicine, homes, campfires, caves, burial sites, weapons, clothes, jewellery, fire sticks, musical instruments, and families. They then joined together into nine groups to create a visual response that included symbols, drawings, maps, and key words to describe their combined research. These posters were then used during a two-hour interactive presentation, ‘From Gumnuts to Buttons’ where the students participated in a shared narrative about the impacts of colonialism upon the Nine Nations and the stories and feelings of the palawa people of today. It was very powerful and emotional experience for everyone involved and importantly, it was led by Aboriginal people, helping our students to gain empathy, understanding and authentic knowledge about the true history of the lutruwita Tasmania.