Hayley Wallace

Very little about the colonisation of Victoria specifically, but I’m aware that there were horrific wars and massacres that occurred after white settlement right across the state. Unfortunately a lot of Victorian history was glossed over in school, and workplace education tends to have a national focus.

My education took place in the 90s and early 2000’s. I recollect very little indigenous history being taught, other than the standard party line around white settlement and James Cook arriving in Botany Bay. There was never any discussion around the impact of settlers on First Peoples. There was some education given around the stolen generation, but I would consider it tokenistic. Everything meaningful I’ve learnt about our First Peoples has come through training given in the workplace and self education.

The real history of colonisation needs to be taught in schools from as early as primary school, along with the ongoing impacts of the systems of inequality that still exist today. It should be part of a curriculum that expands on that knowledge each year.

By listening, by deepening our own understanding through self education of our states history. By supporting our First Nations friends, colleagues and communities in what they’re telling us they need and helping reflect that back to the people in power.

By listening, by deepening our own understanding through self education of our states history. By supporting our First Nations friends, colleagues and communities in what they’re telling us they need and helping reflect that back to the people in power.