Thread by @IndigenousX

Cultural safety in educational institutions - a thread. Mob, please feel free to share your experiences. What I am about to share are from my own personal experiences and I want to shed light on where we are and where we need to be.

Our identity is absolutely not up for discussion by education staff based on what your idea of what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are supposed to look like

I expect First Nations staff to be prioritised to lead any First Nations programming and education. If you don't have First Nations staff, you need to correct this

I was fortunate enough to grow up in a town and go to a school where I was surrounded by mob. I saw myself represented and rarely felt 'one out'. This is not the case for many of our mob studying now

Whilst I was studying at uni (I graduated in 2020), I often felt like the only blak person in the class and had anxieties around whether or not I was going to be put in a position to defend my identity or shut down racist remarks

Unfortunately, I had to challenge an academic on a prescribed reading for a class that was racist and perpetuated damaging narratives about mob. This reading had circulated through 3 cohorts before it got to mine

Incidents such as these are why its important to have culturally safe spaces & staff within educational institutions. I engaged in a thorough discussion with blak staff and peers to make sure that I wasn't 'overthinking' before I approached the academic

I honestly do not know what my educational journey would have been without the incredible and unwavering support of AEO's at my schools and the Indigenous centre on campus at my uni

We as blakfullas face constant gaslighting and are saturated by false and harmful narratives that tell us we aren't good enough. It is imperative that we have access to culturally safe spaces and people

I am now a mother of a school aged child and I am determined to ensure that she is not exposed to places and situations that question her identity, perpetuate false history and narratives and so much more

Places of learning should be reflective of our rich and incredible history and cultures. Educators need to engage in the truth telling process and equip their staff to do so. Representation of First Nations peoples should also be a priority.

Mob have the right to feel safe, seen and heard in their learning spaces. We are all aware of the current disparities in education - engage with mob for solutions and pay them for it!

Also, a good start would be to hang the Aboriginal flag up the correct way out the front of your place of learning - I have had to correct this locally three times in one week.

The hard work has been done, and continues to be done, by mob and is reflected in the policies and strategies within these institutions. The roadmaps are there. It's beyond time to do the work.

Also, one blak staff member cannot carry the entire load of all things 'Indigenous' within educational institutions. This is unreasonable and unfair