A Message from Culture Is Life’s CEO, Belinda Duarte

We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this unceded land, this beautiful country we call Australia. We acknowledge the Elders and old people who have endured the impacts of colonisation on our cultures and the resilience they embody which inspire our work daily.

We at Culture is Life are committed to ensuring the truth of First People’s history is told, heard and known by every Australian, which is why we are so passionate about our work in education and supporting teachers and staff in their huge role and relationships with their students.

Our Education Resources are our contribution to inspiring a curiosity and commitment to building relationships together between First Peoples and Non-Indigenous Australia, and a united commitment to honouring the history of this country and the oldest living culture in the world.

In understanding the truth of this country we can therefore understand why we are where we are today and forge the collective healing required to create a stronger, healthier country into our future.

Thank you for walking this journey with us.

– Belinda Duarte (Wotjobaluk/Dja Dja Wurrung)

The Resources

‘Teaching First Nations Knowledges & Perspectives: A Guide to Creating Safe Learning Environments’ Education Resource

Culture is Life’s education projects include curriculum resource development, social impact campaigns and teacher training. All materials are developed by a collective of First Nations educators and young people to inspire teachers to creatively embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, peoples and cultures in their classrooms.

We hope that this guide offers some guidance to support you in feeling more confident and competent in your teaching and helps to create safe learning environments for all young people.

‘The Australian Wars’ Education Resources

The story of Australia’s longest and perhaps most defining war has been kept silent – until now. Over three parts, this ground-breaking documentary series gives voice to the story of The Australian Wars – the battles fought on home soil, as the colonial frontier pushed forward, and First Nations peoples resisted.

Culture is Life have produced extensive curriculum aligned resources for levels 10-12, freely accessible on our website! Classroom ready short clips with aligned resources for Levels 9-12 can be accessed also on SBS Learn including essential Cultural Considerations for teachers before delivering in the classroom.

Training Opportunities

Culture is Life provide professional development opportunities for educators to connect with our First Nations resource writers.

The professional development sessions aim to support educators to:

• Create culturally safe environments for young people

• Embed First Nations content, values and approaches respectfully

• Increase awareness and better understanding of our nation’s history

• Provide access to more First Nations-led and co-designed educational materials, training and tools

• Increase understanding and skills to support holistic wellbeing outcomes

Webinar: Teaching The Australian Wars and First Nations Knowledges and Perspectives

Our next webinar is ‘Teaching The Australian Wars and First Nations Knowledges and Perspectives’ and is at 5:30pm on Wednesday the 9th of November, 2022.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday 9th November 2022

Time: 5:30 pm – 6:30pm

Place: Online Event

Click here to get your tickets.


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Meet Koby Sellings, one of our 2024 Fellows! Koby is a proud Gunai Kurnai man who is passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education and advocacy. ✊🏽

This is evident through his past and current commitments with Yalari, headspace National and Melbourne Indigenous Transition School. Koby was also the Community Engagement Officer at the @koorieyouthcouncil, which saw him lead the 2023 Koorie Youth Summit, as well as the Blackouts in Mildura and Warrnambool. 💛

Currently, he works at Yalari and has been working in the leadership and wellbeing space to help in the personal development of Yalari's students and alumni. 🧘🏽‍♂️
The 2024 Fullaship in Gimuy (Cairns) wearing their deadly creations made in the “Clay Speaks” workshop hosted by @ttpopp_ 🎨 

Thank you to the deadly tidda @taliciaminniecon for yarning with the young mob and sharing her story, talking about healing and her journey with social entrepreneurship. 💛 

As tidda said, this is why we do what we do - for the next generation, our children, our community and our connection to culture. ✨

📸 @ttpopp_
Meet Bri Apma Hayes, one of our deadly 2024 Fellows! 👋🏽 Bri is a proud Arrernte woman, born and raised on Waddawurrung country in Geelong. She is an artist who grew up learning stories and techniques from her father which she now uses to connect with other people and share culture, history and people's journeys. 🎨

Bri is passionate about education and is currently Co-Chair for her Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group to help all young mob feel safe and heard in education environments. ✊🏽
Arrernte and Kalkadoon filmmaker, Rachel Perkins, has been awarded the Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award at the Screen Music Awards in Naarm (Melbourne). 🏆

“Her stories, whether Indigenous or non-Indigenous, have become woven into the fabric of our national story. 🎬

They challenge us to look deeper, to understand more fully and to walk in the shoes of those whose experiences may be different from our own.” - Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS, which present the Screen Music Awards. 🙌🏽
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📱 Read the full story via @nitv_au
Meet Jeremy Last, one of our 2024 Fellows! Jeremy is a proud Ngaanyatjarra & Pitjantjatjara man studying a double bachelor's degree in International Relations and Arts majoring in Indigenous Knowledges & Society at the University of Adelaide. 👨🏽‍🎓

Jeremy is passionate about community development and advocating for mob. On a personal level Jeremy enjoys playing Australian Rules Football, trail running, spending time with my family and friends and also volunteering at a youth group. 🏃🏽
The 2024 Fullaship mob have landed in Gimuy (Cairns) on Yidinji & Yirrganydji Country for their second intensive ✈️

Special thanks to Traditional Owner, Jiritju Fourmile, for the warm Welcome and showing us around this beautiful Country. 🍃
Meet Raychelle (RayRay) Mckenzie from the 2024 Fullaship Program! RayRay is an Anbarra, Nakara young person with ties to Luritja and Yamatji mobs, passionate about grassroots initiatives and community empowerment. As an MC, rapper, and poet, they express stories of resilience and disparities through music and creativity. 🎤

As part of their Fullaship project to develop as an artist, RayRay has recently performed with Kobie Dee on his Northern Territory Tour and is also passionate about addressing Rheumatic Heart Disease and Streptococcus A, sharing insights from their lived experience and the effects it has on families and their community. 🫂
Today, October 10, marks #WorldMentalHealthDay 🌏 This is a gentle reminder that it's ok to not be ok. Take care of yourself, your mob and your Country. 🫂 It's all connected. 🫶🏽 #MentalHealthMatters

Artwork via @coffinbirth
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