Students at Trangie Central School have started a valuable conversation — to understand the truth and progress the collective healing journey of the Stolen Generations and acknowledge and correct the past.
The national launch of the Stolen Generations Resource Kit for Teachers and Students was held at the school in term 1, after its secondary students trialled the kit last year.
Deputy principal Dimiti Trudgett said the teaching resource has been developed to introduce students to the firsthand experiences of the Stolen Generations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed as children from their families and communities through race-based policies set up by both state and federal governments from 1910 to the 1970s.
“The resource kit supports schools in teaching students from foundation/kindergarten to year 9 about the Stolen Generations,” said Ms Trudgett, who with another Aboriginal teacher Jessica Skinner, taught the trial.
“The lessons include first-hand experiences of the Stolen Generations members, told through stories, music, poetry, dance, art and writing.
“From this, both of us and the students provided feedback on the resources to the Healing Foundation. We were then fortunate enough and honoured to be asked to launch the kit nationally at Trangie Central School.”
Ms Trudgett said the resources are not only educational, but are genuine and very engaging, and “introduces the students to the Stolen Generations and makes it easy for school communities to start these conversations”.
The kit’s activities are linked to the Australian Curriculum.
Chair of the Stolen Generation Reference Group Ian Hamm and previous chair Florence Onus launched the kit.
“We were also lucky enough to have both Ian and Florence speak about their stories and experience to most of our year 9/10 History students, who are currently studying the Stolen Generations,” Ms Trudgett said.
“They were able to not only access these extraordinary people but also use the kit to increase their knowledge and understanding of the Stolen Generations and Aboriginal history.”
Trangie Central now has the kits available for staff to utilise in their programs in a safe and age-appropriate way.
“Learning about the Stolen Generation encourages reconciliation for all Australians,” Ms Trudgett said.
“Being an important part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, it supports the healing process of those affected both directly and indirectly by acknowledging, comprehending and correcting the past.”
— Scott Coomber