Connecting a child to their family group, mob, clan group and traditional country is a key to helping them learn about their culture. The best resource for information is always the child’s parent/s, grandparents and extended family. Respectfully engaging family members is always the first and most important step of the child’s cultural journey. Whenever possible, family members should control and navigate the child’s cultural journey, and an Elder from the child’s family or local community should be a key informant for a child’s cultural plan.
Where family cannot be consulted, contacting the local Aboriginal Co-operative, community centre or land council connected to the child’s mob, can connect you with extended family members, Elders and relevant cultural information.
It may take time to establish these networks or to establish the right connections, so building relationships and trust is key. Taking time to build relationships helps lay the groundwork for interaction with extended family, Elders and community members to contribute meaningful information for the cultural plan that includes language, totems, family history, significant cultural sites, significant cultural sites, ceremonies and rituals.
It is also important to build relationships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO’s) in your area such as VACCA who frequently hold community activities and host cultural events for children of all ages.
Other resources that can help children learn about their culture are Aboriginal cultural centres, websites, Libraries and museums such as the Koorie Heritage Trust and Bunjilaka. Most clan groups and Land Councils have their own websites providing a great source of information as well as Traditional land owner information and people you can contact for further information. Websites such as deadlystory.com, snaicc.org and yarnstrongsista.com provide great resources to help children learn about their culture. Social Media sites such as Facebook can also be an excellent source of information as many traditional owner groups and other cultural services have their own Facebook pages often providing cultural information, community events as well as connections to elders and other community members.
For further information on family history, there are Aboriginal family history services that can assist the research process, some of these services include but are not limited to AIATSIS, The National archives of Australia ( includes the Bringing them home index), State Library of Victoria, Norman Tindale genealogies, Link-up, Births, Deaths and Marriages, the Alick Jackomos Aboriginal Resource Centre and The Victorian Archives Centre Public Records Victoria (PROV) which has a Koorie Records Unit with the Koorie Index of names.
Depending on the age, stage and development of the child, subscribing to Aboriginal newspapers and Magazines such as Koori Mail and signing up to local community organisations mailing lists are also a great way to connect children to their culture. There are also some great Aboriginal televisions shows including cartoons to watch on the National Indigenous Television Network (NITV).
Connecting with your Senior Advisor, Cultural Planning will help guide you to the right services and programs for the child you are working with.