From the Library
Decolonising our collection with an Indigenous Audit
On Wednesday we welcomed Dr Al Fricker to the library. Al will be working with the library staff to help us ‘decolonise the collection’. Through Al’s mentorship, library staff will learn to evaluate resources relating to First Nations people, histories and cultural practices to ensure items fit within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocols for Libraries, Archives and Information Services. (ATSILIRN) Al will also spend some time with the wider school community; meeting with leadership and with NHS’ First Nations students.
Dr. Aleryk (Al) Fricker is a proud Dja Dja Wurrung man and an early career researcher who completed his PhD through Charles Darwin University in 2021. He is currently employed at Deakin University as a Lecturer in Indigenous Education. He was formally a Primary and Secondary school teacher and has a passion for everything teaching and learning.
Dr. Fricker is an active teacher and researcher and works hard with the next generation of teachers so they have the knowledge and skills to begin to decolonise their classrooms to benefit the next generations of students. He uses a decolonised pedagogical approach to ensure that his students can benefit from engaging with First Nations educational practices that are tens of thousands of years old.
Al's research is focused on both the research that justifies the need for decolonisation as well as the practical outcomes and the applied processes for school leadership, classroom teachers, curriculum designers, and the school communities. His research therefore focuses on educational reform and policy that can support the educational outcomes of all, and especially First Nations students.
The library is very pleased and proud to be working with Al on this important project.
Book Week 20-26th August
John Cain Library is excited to announce that as part of our Book Week celebrations, Alice Pung will be giving an author talk to students on Tuesday 23 August.
Alice Pung OAM is an Australian writer, editor and lawyer. Some of her most popular fiction novels include My First Lesson, One Hundred Days, and Laurinda. She has won many awards for her writing, and is an Ambassador for the Twentieth Man Foundation, the 100 Story Building and Room to Read. Pung was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for her services to Australian literature in 2022.
If you’re interested in more information about Alice Pung, please see her website
