Writing for rights - now closed
11 March 2009, 12:19PM
Tom Calma Aborginal and Torres Straight Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Claire Malllinson Director AIA and Rodney Dillon AIA Indigenous Rights Campaigner launching the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples booklet.
Who can enter this competition?
Any student from any Australian tertiary institution who is currently enrolled in an accredited teacher education program, regardless of your teaching methods and year level in your program.
Why have we chosen this topic?
- Human rights represent the conditions that people need to flourish and can be a powerful tool in enhancing social harmony.
- The rights of Indigenous people need to be supported and addressed in Australia. Indigenous rights are a growing priority for Amnesty International.
- A recognition of, and sensitivity to, human rights is central to a Social Education program and to a socially educated person.
What do you have to do?
We ask that create an original unit of work suitable for use in a primary or secondary school. We define a unit of work as being a series of connected lessons. Your unit would not normally be longer than 25 pages and should include:
- Rationale for the choice of your topic (why you think it is important)
- Context for the unit (expected pre-learning, intended students)
- Teaching and learning resources required for the unit (in enough detail so that other teachers can draw upon the resources)
- Links to your current State/Territory curriculum framework (and/or national documents, for example, the 2009 national History curriculum, the 2006 National Statements of Learning for Civics and Citizenship, the 2009 National Goals of Schooling)
- Objectives of the unit (in terms of student knowledge, skills, values, social action)
- Length of the unit (10 lessons maximum of approximately one hour per lesson)
- Teaching and learning activities for each lesson (in sufficient detail so that another teacher could work from your outline, recognising diversity in each student cohort, a range of pedagogies)
- Evaluation strategies (so that you will know if the students have achieved your unit objectives- include at least one detailed assessment item.)
- Extension activities (possible ideas for follow up activities)
- Cover sheet (see text at the bottom of this page) pasted into your email when entering the competition
How do you submit your completed unit of work?
Electronic submission only.
Email your unit to the following email address:
hre@amnesty.org.au.
Include a completed copy of the cover sheet at the end of these guidelines.
When do you need to submit your unit of work?
20 November 2009 is the FINAL day to submit.
We recognise that some of you will be enrolled in social education units at your university in semester one, while others will be enrolled in semester two. You can submit your unit at ANY time before the date, such as at mid-year. We will email you back acknowledging that we have received your work .
Some of you may well be writing a unit as part of your university assessment requirements. That’s OK, but you may need to make a copy of your unit so that it gets to us by 20 November. Our deadline however may allow you to wait until you receive feedback from your lecturer. Some of you may create the unit outside of your university requirements (you may be a Science graduate for example) so you can submit at any time up until 20 November.
Can you work in teams of writers?
Yes, but your team will have to divide the prizes between members of your group!
What topics can you choose?
The focus of this competition is on Indigenous rights: it is up to you to choose the particular aspect you would like to address within this broad area. To some degree your choice will be governed by your chosen year level. Here are some suggestions for topics:
- The Stolen Generation: after the apology, what next?
- Stories of Indigenous human rights defenders
- Comparing the rights of Indigenous communities in Australia with those in other countries (eg NZ and Canada.)
- Poverty and human rights in Indigenous communities: the underlying causes of poverty / stories of success in bringing about change
- The Northern Territory Intervention and human rights
- The history of Indigenous people in your area
- How art and other images can inform us about Indigenous people's rights
Please note that these are only suggestions for the focus of your unit. You are welcome to choose other topics. You may also wish to contact us by email to discuss your proposed topic.
What will you win?
National Prizes (Best primary and best secondary unit.)
- $500 towards attending the next SEAA conference
- Publication of winning units on both the SEAA and AIA websites
State/territory Prizes
- Your choice of Amnesty International merchandise to the value of $150 (see the Amnesty International shop.)
- One year membership of SEAA and Amnesty International Australia
Everyone who enters will receive a certificate for your teaching portfolio.
What are the judging criteria?
Your submitted unit of work will be judged on the following criteria. We suggest that before submitting your unit, you closely review your work against these criteria.
- Adherence to the above required format (see ‘What do I have to do?’)
- Sensitivity to Indigenous issues
- Appropriateness of your unit to your chosen year level
- Originality and creativity
- Depth of understanding of human rights
- A maximum of 10 lessons
- Unit is submitted in electronic form and is capable of web publication.
Who will be doing the judging?
A judging panel will be appointed by SEAA and Amnesty International. Judges decisions will be final and it will not be possible for unsuccessful entrants to receive information about their entry.
When will you be notified?
A reminder, the FINAL date for submission is Friday, 20 November 2009.
The examination of units will be completed by Monday, 30 November 2009.
The winners will be notified by email and letter on Wednesday, 2 December 2009.
On behalf of Amnesty International Australia (AIA) and the Social Educators’ Association on Australia (SEAA), thank you for considering entering our national unit writing competition on Indigenous rights. We hope that you find the activity personally and professionally rewarding.
Who can you contact if you want more details?
We encourage you to read all the information above about the competition and to contact either of us by email if you require further information.
Bob Hill – SEAA
BHill@csu.edu.au
Lecturer in Social Education
School of Teacher Education
Charles Sturt University
Bathurst, NSW. 2795Warren Prior
Amnesty International Australia
wprior@amnesty.org.au
Project Officer
Amnesty International Australia
Locked Bag 7, Collingwood, VIC. 3066
Competition Poster
Download a copy of our competition poster
Who and what are SEAA and Amnesty International Australia?
SEAA
The Social Educators’ Association of Australia is a national teacher professional association for all those with a common interest to promote and improve the quality of teaching and learning about society and human interactions with the environment.
Amnesty International Australia
Amnesty International Australia is part of a worldwide movement who campaign for internationally recognised human rights to be respected and protected.
Cover Sheet for submission of entries
Make sure you paste the following details into your email when sending in your entry:
SEAA/ Amnesty International Unit Writing Entry Coversheet
Title of Unit: Author/s:
Contact details (for November/December 2009)
University:
University Address:
I/we certify that the submitted unit is all my/our original work (although it may have been submitted as part of the course requirements at my university) except where I/we have attributed the work to others
I/we understand that a condition of submitting this unit is that we approve SEAA &/or Amnesty publishing this material in whole or in part provided that they acknowledge the authorship.
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