Truth Telling in Australian Education

Abstract

This podcast examines the transformative impact of Kevin Rudd's 2008 Apology to the Stolen Generations on Australian education, particularly through the introduction of the Australian Curriculum and its three cross-curriculum priorities: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures, sustainability, and Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia. It explores how these priorities, alongside the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) professional standards, shape teacher accountability and institutional change, aiming to foster inclusive and truthful pedagogies. The discussion critiques superficial approaches to Indigenous content, such as tokenistic activities, and advocates for deeper engagement with Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing. Through a decolonising lens, the podcast highlights the role of educators in fostering cultural competence, anti-racism, and social justice, while recognising the pedagogical significance of Country as a relational and living entity.