If you’re a provisionally registered teacher moving to full registration, you’ll need to meet all 37 descriptors of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. However, all teachers may find these videos and resources helpful in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders learners and in demonstrating the cross-curricular priority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.

Here are two videos focusing on what you need to consider when meeting these standards.

APST 2.4 in action

The Balnarring Pre-school on the Mornington Peninsula has won a second honour for its commitment to reconciliation and to building relationships with the Boon Wurrung Foundation. Read more about their outstanding efforts here.

Additional resources

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander users are warned that some of these resources may contain images and voices of deceased persons, and images of places that could cause sorrow.

Standard Inquiry matrix
The matrix can help you understand the correlation between your inquiry and the APST. It shows the stages of the inquiry process and lists the relevant descriptors at each stage. This resource also provides examples of evidence of practice for descriptors that can be more challenging to evidence such as standards 1.4, 1.5 1.6 and 2.4.

The eight-way framework of Aboriginal Pedagogy
This framework provides eight interconnected pedagogies to support and include Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander learners. These pedagogies are also useful for all learners.

Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) – Illustrations of Practice
AITSL provides illustrations of practice for a number of descriptors of the APST, click on “Proficient” and go to standards 1.4 and 2.4 to see real examples of practice related to these descriptors.

AITSL
AITSL has a range of other resources and research relating to standards 1.4 and 2.4. Type ‘Aboriginal’ in the search bar to find the most up to date and relevant resources. 

Cultural awareness modules
This resource by the Department of Education and Training consists of three modules, which provide advice, process and practical suggestions as to what teachers should know and be able to do in order to teach Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners and to teach all learners about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages, history and culture.

• Module 1
• Module 2
• Module 3

Respect, Relationships and Reconciliation
This website provides three modules relating to standards 1.4 and 2.4. This information is targeted at pre-service teachers, however it can still provide useful information for you to develop your practice in these areas as a registered teacher. 

Deadly questions
The Department of Premier and Cabinet offers a public space for Aboriginal Victorians to discuss history and how it affects their lives today. The site features a wide range of questions and answers, the answers provided by Aboriginal Victorians. A useful resource to use with learners in an education setting and to deepen your understanding of Aboriginal history and culture.

FUSE – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture
Find resources for learning and fun, and learn more about the different Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures across Australia. Discover interactive dreamtime stories or the languages spoken where you live. Understand the important connection between indigenous peoples and the places they come from, and learn about traditional cultural practices.

Marrung
A DET program aimed at ensuring all Koorie learners achieve their learning aspirations. The word 'Marrung' is the Wemba Wemba word for Murray Cypress pine tree, and contains resources you can use to help you address standard 1.4.

VAEAI
The Victorian Education Association Inc. (VAEAI) contains information and resources that will assist teaching an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander learner, as well as promoting Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander culture, language and history.

Narragunnawalli
The education component of Reconciliation Australia has a large range of resources available for use by educators. Resources are aimed at promoting reconciliation through understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, addressing standard 2.4.

Koorie English Online
Koorie English Online is a series of modules developed by DET that aim to promote awareness about Koorie English and associated teaching strategies to help strengthen literacy outcomes for Koorie English speakers. They will assist teachers in

• reinforcing for Koorie English speakers in their classrooms a sense of pride in their community dialect
• incorporating Koorie English in literacy learning programs
• supporting Koorie English speakers to develop strategies to code-switch between Koorie English and Standard Australian English effectively and appropriately, depending on context and purpose.

VCAA
The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) has a useful guide for mapping opportunities to incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and culture throughout the Victorian Curriculum.