It is essential that children and students learn, and educators teach, about current events and issues in the public domain that are of particular significance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are represented as alive, resilient and complex.

Incorporating this perspective will build the relevance of historic concepts for children and students and can provide a more concrete and relatable example of current political and cultural events and issues.

In exploring current day events and issues that are significant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the process of reconciliation, it is important to recognise that a number of present-day Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander events and issues are intricately connected to the past. Many challenging experiences faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today are often rooted in a history of unjust colonial policies and practices. Building children and students’ understanding of the impact of the past on the present and future will help them build empathy for their peers and deepen their understanding of their place in the world.