The settler-colonial project impacts all aspects of life in so called Australia. This means that the history of colonisation and its ongoing impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are upheld through colonising systems, structures, values, knowledge and beliefs. This course will introduce you to the historical and ongoing impacts of colonisation, explore what it means to reside on Indigenous land, and examine the personal and professional responsibilities that non-Indigenous people have as a result. You will critically examine notions of power, privilege, knowledge, race and sovereignty, and learn to recognise and critique settler-colonialism in society and professional practice. Critical self-reflection is a crucial component of this course, which will support you to explore your own position in relation to Indigenous sovereignty.

To guide these learnings, this course centres Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and perspectives. Each week you will learn from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples including scholars and experts in key content areas, highlighting Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing (Martin, 2003), truth-telling, contemporary cultural expression, life experiences, and aspirations. Classes are designed to promote safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous students and will develop a forum for the discussion of ideas, truths, challenges and opportunities. Note: The course may include on Country learning with traditional knowledge holders and may include an additional fee.