Alana Karathanasis

It was horrific and had a hugely negative impact on First Peoples culture and way of life.

I am now 36 and when I was in school between 1994 – 2006 I learnt next to nothing about First Nations history and culture, and what I did learn I have now found out to be wrong and extremely offensive. I have heard that nowadays there is much more taught about First Nations history and culture that is both appropriate and accurate, so I hope it has improved since then.

– Ensure that schools cover the full scope of Indigenous histories and cultures, including the impacts of colonisation, the diversity of languages and traditions, and the current challenges and contributions of Indigenous communities. – Create real learning experiences by partnering with local Elders and cultural experts who can bring language, art, and storytelling workshops into schools – Prioritise First Peoples’ voices in government, especially in roles that shape policies affecting Indigenous communities. Empowering First Peoples to lead on issues like land management, healthcare, and education helps ensure policies are culturally respectful and community-informed. – Increase support for programs that help preserve and revitalise Indigenous languages and knowledge, recognising that these are fundamental to cultural identity. – Back more statewide celebrations for events like NAIDOC Week and National Reconciliation Week to bring Victorians together to learn about and honour Indigenous cultures.

We need to educate ourselves, first and foremost. It is our responsibility to learn about First Nations history and culture and to be proactive in this space. Understanding the impact of colonisation and intergenerational trauma is key. We need to support organisations such as the Yoorrook Justice Commission and other First Nations led groups, in the way they want to be supported – not the white people’s way. We need to support policies that really encourage change, rather than band-aid solutions. We need to learn how to engage with First Nations people in a way that is respectful for them and think carefully about the language we use, opening up dialogues for truth telling. We need to support Truth and Treaty without exception, and educate our kids on the true history of Australia so that the atrocities that occurred won’t be an endless cycle of injustice and hypocrisy.

We need to educate ourselves, first and foremost. It is our responsibility to learn about First Nations history and culture and to be proactive in this space. Understanding the impact of colonisation and intergenerational trauma is key. We need to support organisations such as the Yoorrook Justice Commission and other First Nations led groups, in the way they want to be supported – not the white people’s way. We need to support policies that really encourage change, rather than band-aid solutions. We need to learn how to engage with First Nations people in a way that is respectful for them and think carefully about the language we use, opening up dialogues for truth telling. We need to support Truth and Treaty without exception, and educate our kids on the true history of Australia so that the atrocities that occurred won’t be an endless cycle of injustice and hypocrisy.