Our strategy 

The Moondani Toombadool Centre embraces Indigenous knowledge systems and decolonising methodologies into educational practices. The centre provides resources and initiatives to promote understanding and engagement with Indigenous cultures, scholarly contributions and approaches to education

The Indigenous Teaching and Learning Strategy guides academic staff on embedding culturally safe practices across courses. It highlights the impact of personal worldviews on education, the necessity for ongoing self-reflection and the appropriate language terminology to use.

The strategy aims to foster respectful and equitable education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by addressing historical and societal injustices. Additionally, it includes a Cultural Warning to sensitively alert Indigenous students to potentially distressing content.

Moondani Toombadool Indigenous Higher Education Teaching and Learning Strategy

Moondani Toombadool Indigenous Higher Education Teaching and Learning Strategy

This strategy guides Indigenous teaching and learning across the higher education sector and makes a formal commitment to empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and respecting the value and sovereignty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges.
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Mat Jakobi

Indigenous Studies at Swinburne

The School of Social Science, Media, Film and Education offers Indigenous Studies as a major and a minor. The comprehensive major and minor aim to provide students with a thorough understanding of Indigenous cultures, histories and contemporary issues – enabling them to engage with Indigenous perspectives across various disciplines.

Examples of courses

The Indigenous Studies major is available within the Bachelor of Arts as single degree or double degree. The Indigenous Studies minor is available within multiple bachelor degrees, including those outside of arts.

Examples of units

Across the six schools within Swinburne, the integration of Indigenous curriculum into courses holds significant importance in building inclusivity, cultural understanding and social justice as summarised in these units of study.

Core units

Other units

Employment opportunities

Swinburne offers various teaching positions across different disciplines in vocational education and higher education.

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Professional development for staff

Swinburne offers professional development opportunities to actively involve academic and teaching staff from vocational education and higher education sectors in deepening their understanding of Indigenous knowledges, cultures and educational approaches, contributing to reconciliation efforts and promoting social justice in education.

Teaching in a dual sector university

We are committed to helping upskill and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples wanting to teach in the university space.

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE)

This course equips participants to administer training and assessments within the vocational education and training sector. It covers competency-based assessments, designing learning programs, delivering presentations and facilitating training in workplace settings.

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Graduate Certificate of Learning and Teaching (Higher Education)

Designed for those working in academic or academic support roles, this course focuses on creative approaches to curriculum design and delivery, including digital technologies and blended learning modes.

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Swinburne and the Moondani Tombadool Centre offer a range of resources to support academic and teaching staff in creating a more equitable and inclusive educational landscape that values and respects the diversity of all learners.

Professional development

A module from the Koorie Heritage Trust Training is available to help deepen your understanding of Indigenous knowledges, cultures and educational approaches. For more information, please contact Mat Jakobi (Associate Professor, Indigenous Teaching and Learning).

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Writing an Indigenous Acknowledgment page in Canvas

Learn how to integrate culturally safe practices into your course by incorporating an Indigenous Acknowledgment page in Canvas. This page emphasises the importance of understanding how one's worldview impacts teaching and learning, and highlights the need for lifelong critical self-reflection.

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Indigenous Learning Circles

The Indigenous Learning Circles acknowledge Country and Traditional Owners by integrating aspects of Country, people, culture and art to provide a unity across our Croydon, Hawthorn and Wantirna campuses. Discover how to utilise the Indigenous Learning Circle as a gathering place for knowledge exchange and cultural engagement.

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Name Position
Carissa Lee Indigenous Research Fellow
Suzi Hutchings Professor, Indigenous Research Development
Mat Jakobi Associate Professor, Indigenous Teaching and Learning

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Contact the Moondani Toombadool Centre

If you have any questions about our programs and services, feel free to reach out. 

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