The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers has seven Standards, which all connect.
The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSIL) issue the Standards. They outline what teachers should know and be able to do throughout their career.
The Standards are in three domains of teaching:
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professional knowledge
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professional practice
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professional engagement.
While a focus on reconciliation is relevant across the Standards, it is made most explicit under Focus Area 2.4: Understand and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to promote reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and non-Indigenous Australians.
Although Focus Area 2.4 reminds teachers of the expectation and opportunity to engage to engage in this important part of our shared national identity, many don’t know how to address it well.
Some ideas for getting started include:
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using AITSLs Building a Culturally responsive Australian Teaching workforce toolkit (starting with the Indigenous Cultural Self-Reflection Tool)
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helping to develop and implement the school/service’s RAP
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engaging with Narragunnawali professional learning resources, each of which are aligned to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
