First Nations Education

First Nations self-determination

Throughout 2022, over 180 Campfire Conversations on Aboriginal self-determination in education were held across Victoria featuring more than 3,000 participants, bringing together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and schools to listen, share and connect about the possibilities and opportunities for strengthening self-determination in education.

The purpose of the Campfire Conversations, storytelling and deep listening was to:

• build and strengthen partnerships between First Nations communities and schools
• provide schools with an opportunity to better understand how they can strengthen self-determination in everyday practice
• improve attendance, engagement and achievement for First Nations learners
• develop a range of changes to improve agency and success for First Nations people in schools.

Marrung and self-determination

Marrung 2026-2036 First Nations Education Strategy (Marrung)(opens in a new window) is Victoria’s strategy to improve education experiences and outcomes for First Nations learners.

The Strengthening Aboriginal Self-Determination in Education Report

The Strengthening Aboriginal Self-Determination in Education Report (PDF)(opens in a new window) (the Report), contains reform directions devised in response to the perspectives and advice of Aboriginal students, families, educators and broader community members from across Victoria. It is critical for schools to use the guiding questions in the report to reflect on their current practice before undertaking next steps, including the ‘What Can Schools Do Now?’ section.

Conceptual Framework

The Conceptual Framework provides a high-level summary of themes and feedback from the Campfire Conversations and maps how all the elements are interconnected and need to be considered holistically.

This Conceptual Framework animation(opens in a new window) provides an overview of what was learned through the Campfire Conversations and introduces the Conceptual Framework that was developed to illustrate the interconnected and interdependent nature of the Campfire Conversation findings and how they inform the ongoing work.

Possum Skin Statements

The Possum Skin Statements were developed by the Koorie Young People Advisory Group consisting of 12 young people across Victoria, aged 13 to 25, to help educators understand and challenge practices that contribute to negative experiences for First Nations learners.

Schools can use the statements as a reflection tool alongside direct engagement with their own First Nations learners, families and communities.

• Possum skin artwork with background – A3 poster (PDF, 998 KB)(opens in a new window)
• Possum skin artwork – A1 poster (PDF, 3.22 MB)(opens in a new window)

Actions for schools

Following on from the Campfire Conversations, schools are recommended to reflect on current practice and plan how to implement actions that strengthen self-determination and improve experiences and outcomes for First Nations learners.

Schools can strengthen self-determination by:

• listening to First Nations learners, families and community before decisions are made
• identifying the right local people and organisations to guide the work
• being clear about what decisions can be shared or community-led
• creating ongoing, not one-off, opportunities for First Nations voice and leadership
• resourcing community participation and cultural expertise appropriately
• reviewing whether relationships and decisions are making a meaningful difference.