With National Reconciliation Week right around the corner, it's a perfect moment to pause and think about the importance of reconciliation and cultural understanding in education. As we continue to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements,
let's also stop to recognise how far we've come while also acknowledging the road ahead towards a more inclusive and fair education system.
AITSL is committed to building a culturally responsive workforce. Through our collaboration with
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education experts, students, families, and communities, we've developed a professional learning toolkit.
This toolkit is designed to help you – teachers, educators, and leaders – enrich your cultural awareness and understanding. Take a moment to explore and use the toolkit and either make a start, or build upon, your reconciliation journey.
This work will continue to grow, with the commitment in the Australian Government’s 2024-25 budget to fund enhancements to AITSL’s cultural responsiveness resources, further supporting the profession in this important area.
I’m also pleased to share with you the new Australian Teacher Workforce Data (ATWD) publication series, In Focus: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teachers.
This edition dives deep into the unique experiences and contributions of these amazing teachers, offering a fantastic resource for shaping policies and practices that support and empower them throughout their careers. For the first time, the career
trajectory of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers has been comprehensively mapped out, from the outset of their teaching journey through initial teacher education (ITE) to their experiences in the teacher workforce and future career intentions.
If you haven’t read this, I encourage you to take a look.
As well as developing resources for your use, we've also undertaken significant steps within AITSL to embed cultural responsiveness and reconciliation through our Reconciliation
Action Plan (RAP). It's our roadmap for building meaningful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and creating a workplace culture of inclusivity and equity. Our RAP emphasises our commitment to improving cultural awareness,
respect, and understanding among our staff members.
As we gear up for National Reconciliation Week, let's make it a time to celebrate and connect. I encourage you to get involved in activities that promote understanding and respect for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Whether it's attending events, sharing stories, or simply starting conversations, let's all do our part in fostering reconciliation. Together, we can make a real difference and build a brighter, more
inclusive future for all Australians.
Warm regards,
Edmund Misson
Acting CEO, AITSL