Place and Culture
See how the daily lives of First Peoples are shaped by Country and place.
Experience the diverse cultures of south-eastern Australia's First Peoples and see some of the protocols for acknowledging First Peoples culture and traditions.
Students will experience
- Exploring the Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre using a self-guided booklet designed to encourage deep listening and collaboration.
- Cultural belongings and their accompanying stories.
- Extensive primary sources through both physical and multimedia modes.
- First Peoples voices.
Students will learn
- The importance of place and Culture to First Peoples
- How sustainable farming methods are used throughout the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape.
- The diversity of First Peoples across Australia and south-eastern Victoria.
Students will be provided
- With a booklet to guide them through the exhibition. Use this booklet back in the classroom to extend learning and reflect on the visit.
- Teachers should follow the journey on the map included in the booklet.
- Students will NOT require any pens or pencils. No writing implements are permitted in Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
Students will need
- Before visiting Bunjilaka, students should watch the Bunjilaka Introduction video:
Other key information
- To extend your learning, teachers may want to watch the videos from the Bunjilaka website, in particular First Peoples Creation Cinema and Representing Diversity.
Additional learning activities
- Using the Bunjilaka introduction video, discuss the meaning of Wominjeka and the significance of Bunjil and Waa to the people of the Kulin nations.
- As a class, discuss your purpose for visiting Bunjilaka Aboriginal Cultural centre and make a ‘know, want to know, learnt’ chart. Reflect on this after your visit.
- Research the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape, how it was formed, its cultural significance, and the eel farming practices used in this region.
- Examine the AIATSIS map and discuss its meaning and its limitations.
- Begin drafting a class Acknowledgement of Country and complete this as a class after your visit
Availability
Terms 1–4, Monday to Friday
Duration: 30 minutes
Student information
Years 3 to 4
Bookings
$8 per student + education service fee
Call 13 11 02 or submit an online booking request
Exhibition
Self-guided exhibition visit with provided activity
Victorian Curriculum Links
Geography: Levels 3 and 4
Diversity of places and environments
- the relationships between people and their place and its environment (VC2HG4K01)
- the importance of environments, including natural vegetation and water sources, to people and animals in Australia and on another continent (VC2HG4K03)
History: Levels 3 and 4
Community, remembrance and celebrations
- The significance of Country and Place to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples who are connected to their area (VC2HH4K01)
Early colonisation of Australia to c. 1800
- the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, their social organisation and the ways their daily lives were shaped by Country and Place (VC2HH4K06)
Historical questions:
- ask a range of historical questions to identify evidence of the experiences of people in the past (VC2HH4S01)
Intercultural capability: Levels 3 and 4
Culture, identity and belonging
- similarities and differences among diverse cultures, including their own, and how cultural communities foster a sense of belonging and inclusion (VC2CI4C01)
- understandings that can be gained from intercultural experiences, including a critical perspective on, and respect for, diverse cultures, including their own (VC2CI4C02)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
Culture
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ ways of life reflect unique ways of being, knowing, thinking and doing. (VC2CCPAC2)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people belong to the world’s oldest continuous cultures. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples demonstrate resilience in the maintenance, practice and revitalisation of culture despite the many historic and enduring impacts of colonisation, and they continue to celebrate and share the past, present and future manifestations of their cultures. (VC2CCPAC3)
Accessibility
Please view our accessibility page for general information. Contact our team on 13 11 02 or email us at [email protected] to discuss how we can support your visit.
Museums Victoria Learning Access Fund
The Museums Victoria Learning Access Fund aims to enhance access to our museums (Melbourne Museum, Scienceworks and Immigration Museum), programs and events by offering free or subsidised education programs for eligible schools. Find out more about the fund.
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