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Resources for Parents and Kids: Australia

Honest History Rock Art Illustration

 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this article may contain images and names of deceased persons.

 

Issue 19 A Land Called Oz

Have you read Issue 19 | A Land Called OZ? It tells the story of a land known as Australia and its First Peoples.

With every magazine issue, finding resources we can trust is a crucial step in our development process. And we wanted to share what we found while creating Issue 19. We hope it will help educators and encourage young historians to continue learning. 

 

 

Researchers and Aspiring Academics

It’s hard to keep our list short, but here are our top picks to help you begin your research journey.

 

The Autobiography of Charles Perkins: A leader of the 1965 Freedom Ride, Charles Perkins made history as the first Aboriginal Australian to graduate university. Perkins' autobiography provides insight into the civil rights movement and his trailblazing life. You can learn all about this activist and the historic 1965 Freedom Ride in our newest magazine issue.

 

1965 Freedom Ride
The Freedom Ride bus in 1965. Image credit: Wikimedia.

 

The Little Red Yellow Black Book: An Introduction to Indigenous Australia: Here’s an introduction to Australia's rich Indigenous cultures that’s written from a First Nations' perspective. Bruce Pascoe (author of Dark Emu) created this book for a general audience. It has sections dedicated to history, culture, sport, the arts, education, resistance, reconciliation, and much more.

 

Aboriginal Australian: A History Since 1788: This book has been heavily revised since its original publication in 1982. Now on its fifth edition, the author Richard Broome tells the story of colonization from the standpoint of the First Peoples. Highly regarded, it’s considered a useful introduction to First Nations history after 1788.

 

Academic journals: Peer-reviewed articles have kept us up to date with the recent academic literature. Researchers can browse The Australian Journal of Anthropology (TAJA), The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AARES), and Journal of Australian Studies. Here are just a few helpful articles covering Indigenous navigation, fire-stick farming, and rock art.

 

Uluru & Kata Tjura National Park, AustraliaUluru & Kata Tjura National Park, Australia

 

Educators and Parents
 

Good news! There are so many online resources available to help parents and teachers jump into Australian history.

 

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Islander Studies: AIATSIS is Australia’s only national institution focused exclusively on the history and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia. You can explore its online collections to discover art, objects, and curriculum resources. And, if you'd like to learn more about the Freedom Riders, check out images of Ann Cuthoys’ diaries and an article about the 1965 journey.

 

The Australian Museum: Australia’s first museum has a wealth of information about the country’s history and First Nations peoples. From learning activities to virtual exhibits, there are a number of ways to engage young historians. 

 

The Australian Museum
The main entrance of The Australian Museum.
Image credit: Gordon Makryllos / CC BY-SA 4.0

 

Pathfinders: The History of NSW Aboriginal Trackers: Issue 19 features the fearless Australian trackers. This online resource will help young historians learn more about the first trackers who assisted the NSW Police Force from 1862 to 1973. Complete with a map, images, and timeline, this website allows users to dig deeper into the stories of individual trackers. 


Koori Curriculum: Looking for more ideas? Koori curriculum is working to provide First Nations’ perspectives in school curriculums. You can browse their educator resources to find products that work for your classroom or home.

 

Young Historians


Want to learn more about Australia and the First Nations peoples? Here are three books to get your kids started. 

 

Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country: This picture book is a great introduction to First Nations history and culture. It is just one book in a series created in collaboration between Adnyamathanha and Narungga man Adam Goodes (2014 Australian of the Year), journalist Ellie Laing, and Barkindji illustrator David Hardy. Beautifully illustrated, Ceremony is a joyful celebration of family and culture.

 

 

Welcome to Country: An Introduction to our First Peoples for Young Australians: Professor Marcia Langton is considered one of the most important voices for Indigenous Australia. Her book is written for young historians currently in elementary school. Chapters cover topics such as prehistory, post-colonial history, storytelling, language, Native Title, and much more. 

 

An A to Z Story of Australian Animals: Here's a picture book for your littlest historians (ages 3-5). The author, Sally Morgan, belongs to the Palkyu people of the eastern Pilbara in Western Australia. Bronwyn Bancroft, the illustrator, is a descendant of the Djanbun clan of the Bundjalung nation. This multi-layered story is about more than just animals—it explores feelings, community, and sharing.  

 

Tasmania, Australia Night Sky
 Emu in the Sky above Tasmania, Australia. This constellation has featured in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander storytelling and culture for thousands of years.   



Stay tuned as we continue to share resource tips for future issues. And, if you haven't already, we hope you'll dive into the history of Australia using our kids magazine Issue 19 | A Land Called Oz