Engaged and Ethical Local and Global Citizens

Our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of national historical contexts. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates will be aware of disadvantages and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.

ARTEFACT Book “Shake A Leg” By Boori Monty and Jan Ormerod

Questions to enlighten … Is there anyone here who is Aboriginal or by decent? Born overseas? Parents / grandparents born overseas? Do you practice different customs at home? How did you find it when you have friends over from different cultures? e.g. meals, clothes. Are there different perspectives on the Australian Indigenous population from other cultures? Did you find it challenging to grow up in Australia? Why? Who has lived / travelled overseas? How did it differ from Australia? Did you find it hard to “fit in” and / or accept that different culture? Did anyone find that their parents opinions / perspectives shaped their own? Were you able to create your own views / opinions? Did they stay the same or change?

Importance of being an engaged and ethical local and global citizens Through discussion we have gained an appreciation of cultural and social diversity in the classroom. How does it differ outside the classroom? Australia’s perspective on cultures and social disadvantage has changed dramatically throughout the generations. Multiculturalism has become apart of out national identity and social justice is a main challenge of contemporary society. Significant events. Teachers – cannot place opinions, point of views, perspectives or bias comments onto their students as these children won’t have the opportunities to develop an open-mind. If opinions are forced onto students they have unknowingly become close-minded on the challenges society is facing and they won’t have the opportunity to participate in helping to create a wiser and better society.