Amnesty International Australia

Preview: new resource on Indigenous rights in Australia

View materials from the resource "Indigenous rights in Australia today: where do you stand?"

Amnesty International will shortly be releasing a package of curriculum resources on Indigenous rights in Australia today, focussing on issues ranging from the Northern Territory Intervention to Indigenous rights to land and the Apology to the Stolen Generations.

The materials are designed for students at middle and senior secondary level around Australia. They will be useful for History, English, Legal Studies, Aboriginal Studies, Civics and Citizenship, Politics and Legal Studies.

View some of the materials from this resource, and receive an email when the full package is available.

The draft national curriculum: applying Australia’s national human rights framework

Amnesty International has prepared a submission in response to the Australian government's new Human Rights Framework.

The national curriculum: focussing on human rights

Recent consultations about the national goals of schooling and a new national curriculum for Australia have provided an opportunity to highlight the need for a greater focus on human rights education in schools. Amnesty International Australia has prepared two submissions to the National Curriculum Board.

Human Rights in Focus

The Human Rights in Focus DVD includes three short films about human rights. Developed by Amnesty International UK in 2007, a copy has been sent to every secondary school library in Australia. Download the accompanying curriculum resources and worksheets.

Right Here, Right Now

Right Here, Right Now: teaching citizenship through human rights is a downloadable resource designed for use in citizenship education in years 7-9. It links human rights concepts with everyday experiences and enables teachers to examine human rights issues such as identity and diversity, rights and responsibilities and child poverty.

Cartoons

Preview of some the cartoons which will appear in the new resource on Indigenous Rights.

Indigenous health

There is still grave difference between Indigenous and non-Indigenous health. Find information on health and wellbeing.

Multimedia links

Looking for videos on Indigenous issues and stories? This extra supplementary section contains links to various multimedia material.

Indigenous self determination

What is self determination, and what does it mean when we talk about Indigenous human rights?

Useful reference links

We have dedicated a supplementary section with links to useful websites about Indigenous issues.

Taking action

Indigenous history in Australia since colonisation is full of examples of small groups of people making a difference. There are plenty of practical ways that you too can be involved.

Land and Indigenous Peoples’ rights

Discussion of Indigenous rights in Australia today inevitably leads to the question of Indigenous rights to land.

The NT intervention: the media debate

The media articles in this section provide a range of opinions about the historic events of the Northern Territory intervention. They document the different voices in the debate about the intervention and what it means for Indigenous people and all Australians.

The NT Intervention and human rights

The NT Intervention is one of the most significant issues affecting Aboriginal people in contemporary Australia. Its stated aim was to protect children. But while it included some positive initiatives, it also included a range of policies that discriminate against Indigenous people.

Cartoons

Visually learn about the apology, intervention, land rights and history through our compelling and thought-provoking cartoon illustrations.

Starting points for discussion

The initial section of the resource package covers a broad range of issues on Indigenous rights, from media coverage of Indigenous issues and historical perspectives to racism and sport.

Indigenous Rights in Australia Today: Overview and Teacher Introduction

This resource provides opportunities to learn about Indigenous rights issues in Australia today, with a focus on the Northern Territory intervention as a case study, as well as issues including coverage of Aboriginal issues in the media, land, and ways to take action.

Ideas for Human Rights Education

Here are some practical classroom ideas on teaching for human rights. Produced by the LOTE, ESL and Multicultural Education Unit of the Victorian Department of Education and Training.

Compasito: resources for primary teachers

Developed by the Council of Europe, Compasito is designed for educators working with children aged 7-13. Including concepts of human rights and children’s rights and provides background on 13 key human rights issues such as democracy, citizenship, gender equality, environment, media, poverty and violence.

“Writing for rights” competition - now closed

This competition for student teachers involved writing units of work on Indigenous rights. It was organised by Amnesty International Australia and the Social Education Association of Australia. The competition is now closed. Winning entries will be published on this website.

Lesson plans

Downloadable lesson plans and resources for teachers on human rights issues.

Taking action for human rights

These resources have been developed by students at Deakin University's Graduate Diploma of Applied Learning and include information on taking action for human rights and organising an event.

Human Rights today: curriculum resource for years 9 & 10

Human Rights today: Discussing the issues, Accepting the Challenge is a teacher and student resource for use at years 9 and 10. The resource focuses on child labour, the rights of Indigenous people in Australia, the rights of women and girls and human rights in conflict situations.

Awaken your social conscience

Amy Virdi, who has been convenor of the James Cook University campus group for three years looks at how students are leading the way in activism and shares what running an Amnesty International Australia group is really about.

The right attitude

Young Australians recognise that most Australians, by global standards, are privileged enough to have access to shelter, food, water, free health care and free schooling, whilst others in developing countries aren't so lucky. They also believe that Australians should do more to support those in need in developing countries, Anita Harvey reports.

Starting your own school group

Starting and running your own Amnesty International Australia school group is lots of fun and very rewarding. Here is some advice and tips on how to set up a group, how to run a meeting, where to get extra help, how to fundraise, how to use the media and much more.

Human rights - important in anyones language

Amnesty International Australia's vision is of a world in which every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Here is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in different languages.

Refugees’ rights

Are you a teacher looking for ways to engage your students about refugees? This page includes lesson plans and online resources formulated around refugee and asylum seeker's human rights.

Links to other resources

Would you like to find out more about human rights education? There are a large number of organisations that provide websites, books, videos and teacher's aids to help you. Find links to some of those resources here.