All guides: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources: Vocational Education

Key resources for Vocational Education

Victoria
Vocational Education

Victoria

You may find more local resources in the Resources by study area box below.

Yoorrook Justice Commission
The Yoorrook Justice Commission is the first formal truth-telling process into historical and ongoing injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria. It released the Yoorrook for Justice report into the Victorian child protection and criminal justice systems in 2023.
Federation of Victorian Traditional Owners Corporations
The Federation is the Victorian state-wide body that convenes and advocates for the rights and interests of Traditional Owner groups while progressing wider social, economic, environmental and cultural objectives.
Koorie Heritage Trust
Koorie Heritage Trust has the only public collection in Victoria dedicated solely to Koorie art and culture. It has a range of cultural experience programs including cultural competency training, and exhibitions of Victorian Peoples art and artists.
Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council
The VAHC is a council of Traditional Owners working to strengthen Aboriginal Peoples, knowledges and communities across Victoria. Its role includes helping the community respect and understand Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and Traditional Owner responsibilities.
Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO)
VACCHO is the peak representative for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria. Its website provides health service and program information, education and training, policy and advocacy, and cultural safety services.
Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV)
Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV) is the lead agency for Victoria’s Aboriginal housing and homelessness policy, Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-takoort. It holds the Government to account in securing resources and reforms, and empowers Victoria’s Aboriginal community to determine its own housing future.
Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum
Members of the Forum include Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), Traditional Owner groups (TOs) and Aboriginal Trusts. Together they deliver housing and homelessness services across the state of Victoria. Search for your topic or browse publications and resources.
Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
VACL is the peak body for Aboriginal Languages in the state of Victoria. Its members are leaders in language revitalization, resource development, and research. VACL works with forty-four Language Groups and fourteen Lects.
Kinaway Chamber of Commerce
Provides business support and advice, helps improve visibility and networks, strengthens relationships and creates opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses across Victoria.

Vocational Education

You will find more resources in the Resources by study area box below.

AIATSIS Collection
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) holds the world's largest collection dedicated to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
AIATSIS Education
The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Education website has curriculum resources about Indigenous Australia. It also provides guidance for non-Indigenous educators to critically reflect on pedagogical practices.
Australians for Native Title and Recognition: the issues
ANTAR is a national advocacy group dedicated to achieving rights, justice and respect for First Nations Peoples of Australia. Current issues include truth-telling, Treaty, racism, justice, native title and land rights, cultural heritage, Closing the Gap, and Survival Day.
Analysis and Policy Observatory (APO)
APO is an free platform to access Australian public policy research and reports. Browse subjects or use the search box. Relevant collections include: First Peoples health; Indigenous knowledges collection; and, First Peoples and public policy.
Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights
Learn about Indigenious cultural and intellectual property (ICIP) and find out how to respect ICIP rights in your own work.
Insight video series: Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights
First Nations artists talk about their experiences with fake art and the effect it has on their communities. Filmed during the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair in August 2024.

Resources by study area

Creative Industries

You can find more links in the Key resources and Victoria boxes above.

Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) Foundation
The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) Foundation is a not-for-profit membership organisation that represents more than seventy Indigenous-owned art centres and thousands of artists around Australia. The annual DAAF is held on Larrakia Country and online. 100% of sales go to artists and their communities.
Indigenous art code of conduct
The Code is a voluntary industry code of conduct for art dealers who trade in or deal with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and their art. It sets best practice standards to strengthen the Indigenous visual arts sector and help create a fairer market for artists.
Blak Dot Gallery
Blak Dot Gallery in Naarm (Melbourne) is as artist-run gallery for contemporary First Nations art in Australia.
BlackWords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writing and storytelling
BlackWords details the lives, careers, and works of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island writers and storytellers. It also provides research outcomes, datasets, teaching material and curated content.
First Nations Media Australia
First Nations Media Australia is the peak body for First Nations not-for-profit broadcasting, media and communications. Its online resources include guides for consumers, media workers and organisations. Explore its website to find projects, news and industry information.
indigiTUBE
An online media platform by and for First Nations people, preserving language and culture for future generations.
Nangamai: A celebration of First Nations Culture
Explore film, music and dance by First Nations artists at the National Film and Sound Archive.
First Nations design and engineering
Design and Technology Teachers Association (DATTA) Victoria. This website contains a wealth of links to resources about First Nations Culture.
Melbourne Museum: Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre
The Bunjilaka Centre is a major exhibition at Melbourne Museum. It has more than 600 historic and contemporary art and objects and was co-curated by the Yulendj Group of Elders. Its Education page provides links to school programs and resources.
National Gallery of Victoria: First Nations Art
Wurrdha Marra - ‘Many Mobs’ in the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung language - is on permanent display at The Ian Potter Centre. The works represent both senior and emerging artists from diverse places and cultures in Australia. The NGV's First Nations Art website also features touring exhibitions and collection highlights.
Indigenous Australian art movements and cooperatives
A Wikipedia site with links to Indigenous-owned and/or controlled that are all not-for-profit organisations or, in a few cases, companies owned by the artists.

Future Technologies

You can find more links in the Key resources and Victoria boxes above.

North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd (NAILSMA)
NAILSMA is an Indigenous-led not for profit whose projects include: protecting country against invasive species; managing unmanaged herds; fire management; and, using AI and digital technology for healthy country. View the Resources page to access its many written and multimedia publications.
Design: building on country
Australian Aboriginal design is visible in the aerodynamic boomerang, the ingenious design of fish traps and the precise layouts of community settlements. This book shows how Indigenous design principles are being applied to contemporary practices.
First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group
Closing the Gap in digital inclusion for First Nations Australians is a national priority. It will improve opportunities for employment, social connectedness, and access to vital services.
Engineers Without Borders: First Nations Australia
Working alongside Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in support of their aspirations to live and thrive on Country.

Business and Enterprise

You can find more links in the Key resources and Victoria boxes above.

Supply Nation
Supply Nation provides a database of verified Indigenous businesses. Supply Nation’s definition of an Indigenous business is at least 50% owned by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islands person(s). This definition is also applied by Federal and State Government and most corporate organisations.
Federation of Victorian Traditional Owners Corporations
The Federation is the Victorian state-wide body that convenes and advocates for the rights and interests of Traditional Owner groups while progressing wider social, economic, environmental and cultural objectives.
North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd (NAILSMA)
NAILSMA is an Indigenous-led not for profit whose projects include: protecting country against invasive species; managing unmanaged herds; fire management; and, using AI and digital technology for healthy country. View the Resources page to access its many written and multimedia publications.
Kinaway Chamber of Commerce
Provides business support and advice, help improve visibility and networks, strengthen relationships and create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses across Victoria.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural capability toolkit - VPSC
Supports public sector workplaces to build their capability to attract, recruit, retain, support and develop Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff at all levels.

Built Environment and Sustainability

You can find more links in the Key resources and Victoria boxes above.

Land and sea management and native title
Information and examples of state and national programs and frameworks. This website is managed by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) with geospatial data provided by the National Native Title Tribunal.
Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI): Indigenous perspectives
This site addresses the absence of Indigenous perspectives in Australian metropolitan planning strategies and calls for a more nuanced integration in urban policies. Includes a repository of over 700 research papers.
Yoorrook Justice Commission: Land, sky and waters
The Yoorrook Justice Commission is the first formal truth-telling process into historical and ongoing injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria.
North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance Ltd (NAILSMA)
NAILSMA is an Indigenous-led not for profit whose projects include: protecting country against invasive species; managing unmanaged herds; fire management; and, using AI and digital technology for healthy country. View the Resources page to access its many written and multimedia publications.
Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation
The Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC) is a corporate Commonwealth entity established under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 (ATSI Act).
Country: future fire, future farming
Bill Gammage and Professor Bruce Pascoe demonstrate how Aboriginal people cultivated the land through manipulation of water flows, vegetation and firestick practice. They detail the remarkable agricultural and land-care techniques of First Nations peoples and show how such practices are needed now more than ever.
Indigenous engineering for an enduring culture
This book is a recognition and acknowledgement of the ingenuity of Indigenous engineering. It combines Indigenous knowledge skills and academic expertise, providing examples of collaboration at the intersection of Western and Indigenous engineering principles.
CABAH: Australia’s Epic Story
This website from the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH) tells the human and environmental history of Australia. It provides news and research about people, climate, landscapes, wildlife, time and models.

Social Care and Health

You can find more links in the Key resources and Victoria boxes above.

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
NACCHO is the peak body in Aboriginal health, representing over 150 Aboriginal community controlled health services in urban, regional and remote Australia. It provides advice and guidance to government and advocates for community-developed health solutions that contribute to quality of life and improved health outcomes.
Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet
This website supports those working in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector with information about health conditions, determinants of health and more. It publishes an annual report called "Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health". Search for your topic or browse topics.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
The AIHW is an independent government agency that produces authoritative statistics and reports about the health and wellbeing of Australians. Search for your subject, browse topics in "Reports and data," or explore the "First Nations people" population group. "Regional Insights for Indigenous communities" (RIFIC) is a dashboard where you can search by postcode, place name or map location for local and regional health data.
50 words project
This University of Melbourne project aims to provide fifty words in every Indigenous language of Australia. Words are provided online with community permission, with audio provided by a language speaker. Resources include a map so that users can find the languages in their local area, and an activity book for teachers.
ERIC: Education Resources Information Center
ERIC is a free education database funded by the US Department of Education with a lot of Australian content. Search for your topic then use limits on left side of the screen to drill down to Location (Australia), topic (Descriptor), Education level, Audience, Date, etc.
AIATSIS Education
The aim of AIATSIS Education is to influence what children learn at school about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia and support educators and schools to teach confidently.
VACCA Cultural Hub
VACCA Cultural Hub is aimed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. It is full of deadly activities and resources to help children get creative, grow knowledge and connect to culture.
Yarn Strong Sista
Yarn Strong Sista offer a range of services including visits to Early Childhood environments to facilitate storytelling and arts workshops with children, hosting Professional Development training for Educators, facilitating arts experiences and face-painting at festivals and events, and providing First Nations designed resources and educational tools on our website.

Evaluating and referencing Indigenous knowledges

Indigenous referencing: Guidance for Indigenous knowledges (PDF, 27 pages)
This toolkit includes a decision tree to help you critically assess sources of Indigenous information. It provides referencing guidance on how to include the author’s affiliated Nation/Country/Language group, with examples of citing and referencing sources using APA 7th edition style.
This resource was created by the Indigenous Archives Collective (IAC), through funding by CAVAL and support by CACIK.

Alternative format: Indigenous Knowledges Attribution Toolkit (Word, 27 pages)

Library subject guides

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources

Key resources for Vocational Education

Victoria

Vocational Education

Resources by study area

Creative Industries

Future Technologies

Business and Enterprise

Built Environment and Sustainability

Social Care and Health

Evaluating and referencing Indigenous knowledges