Library Guides: Growing up Aboriginal in Australia: Overview

Source: Black Inc. Books (2020).

This is a "collection of stories that speaks to the strength of Aboriginal identity in Australia today, as well as the diversity of voices in the long marginalised Aboriginal literary community." (Elston, 2018)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this website may contain images and voices of deceased people.

Don't forget to cite and reference your sources. For help see the Junior School or Senior School referencing guides, and / or CiteMaker.

Resource Key

When accessing content use the numbers below to guide you:

LEVEL

Brief, basic information laid out in an easy-to-read format. May use informal language. (Includes most news articles)

LEVEL

Provides additional background information and further reading. Introduces some subject-specific language.

LEVEL

Lengthy, detailed information. Frequently uses technical/subject-specific language. (Includes most analytical articles)

Quick Links

Growing up Aboriginal in Australia | Overview: Keywords

Click on the terms to access a simple definition from Lexico, the online Oxford Dictionary.

Aboriginal, Country, Dreaming, Elders; First Nations; Indigenous Australians; Mob; NAIDOC; Reconciliation, Songlines, Sorry Day; Stolen Generation; Torres Strait Islander; Traditional custodians

Please try to use the correct terms when writing about indigenous Australians. Use of wrong, or out-of-date, terms can cause offense to Indigenous Australians. See also:

Pathways thesaurus for Indigenous languages and people
The pathways thesaurus for Indigenous languages and people is maintained by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.

Growing up Aboriginal in Australia | Overview: Articles

Speaking with: Author Anita Heiss on Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia (Elston, 2018)
"Anita Heiss is one of the most prolific writers documenting Aboriginal experiences in Australia today through non-fiction, historical fiction, poetry and children’s literature. Her memoir, Am I Black Enough for You?, was a finalist in the 2012 Human Rights Awards.... For her latest book, Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia, Heiss traded the role of writer for editor. The anthology includes 52 essays from First Nations writers spanning the breadth of society, from rural to urban, young to old, coastal regions to the country’s interior, well known authors to emerging writers." (Elston, 2018)
more...less...
Reference / citation: Elston (2018) or (Elston, 2018)
Reference list / Bibliography: Elston, J., (2018). Speaking with: Author Anita Heiss on Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia in The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/speaking-with-author-anita-heiss-on-growing-up-aboriginal-in-australia-102644

Growing up Aboriginal in Australia [Book review], (Brinckley, Makayla-May, 2018)
"Growing up Aboriginal in Australia, edited by
Anita Heiss, is an honest, poignant and often
heartbreaking collection of short stories. It is an
uplifting recount of our own people, our own
stories and our own social, cultural and interpersonal strengths." (Brinckley, Makayla-May, 2018)
more...less...
References:
Bibliography:
Brinckley, M.-M. (2018). 'Growing up Aboriginal in Australia'. Australian Aboriginal Studies, 2, 78–79. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=anh&AN=135568404&site=ehost-live&scope=site&authtype=ip,sso&custid=mggsvic

Growing up Aboriginal in Australia | Overview: eBooks

Click on the following book covers to place a hold in the library catalogue or access the book online. If prompted, sign in with your School mConnect user name and password.

Growing up Aboriginal in Australia [eBook] by Anita Heiss (Editor)
ISBN: 9781743820421
Publication Date: 2018
Childhood stories of family, country and belonging. What is it like to grow up Aboriginal in Australia? This anthology, compiled by award-winning author Anita Heiss, showcases many diverse voices, experiences and stories in order to answer that question. Accounts from well-known authors and high-profile identities sit alongside those from newly discovered writers of all ages. All of the contributors speak from the heart - sometimes calling for empathy, oftentimes challenging stereotypes, always demanding respect. This groundbreaking collection will enlighten, inspire and educate about the lives of Aboriginal people in Australia today. Contributors include: Tony Birch, Deborah Cheetham, Adam Goodes, Terri Janke, Patrick Johnson, Ambelin Kwaymullina, Jack Latimore, Celeste Liddle, Amy McQuire, Kerry Reed-Gilbert, Miranda Tapsell, Jared Thomas, Aileen Walsh, Alexis West, Tara June Winch, and many, many more. Winner, Small Publisher Adult Book of the Year at the 2019 Australian Book Industry Awards 'Growing Up Aboriginal in Australia is a mosaic, its more than 50 tiles - short personal essays with unique patterns, shapes, colours and textures - coming together to form a powerful portrait of resilience.' --The Saturday Paper '... provides a diverse snapshot of Indigenous Australia from a much needed Aboriginal perspective.' --The Saturday Age
Growing up Aboriginal in Australia [Print book] by Anita Heiss
Call Number: 305.89 HEI
ISBN: 9781863959810
Publication Date: 2018
What is it like to grow up Aboriginal in Australia? This anthology, compiled by award-winning author Anita Heiss, showcases many diverse voices, experiences and stories in order to answer that question. Accounts from well-known authors and high-profile identities sit alongside those from newly discovered writers of all ages. All of the contributors speak from the heart – sometimes calling for empathy, oftentimes challenging stereotypes, always demanding respect. This groundbreaking collection will enlighten, inspire and educate about the lives of Aboriginal people in Australia today.

Growing up Aboriginal in Australia | Overview: Audio book

Don't forget to use your OverDrive Sora app to download and listen to this audiobook offline. See the Kerferd Library Sora help page for details. These Sora audio books can be reserved by teachers for book assignments.

Growing up Aboriginal in Australia [Audio book] by Anita Heiss (Editor)
ISBN: 9781528810128
Publication Date: 2020
What is it like to grow up Aboriginal in Australia? This anthology, compiled by award-winning author Anita Heiss, showcases many diverse voices, experiences and stories in order to answer that question. Accounts from well-known authors and high-profile identities sit alongside those from newly discovered writers of all ages. All of the contributors speak from the heart - sometimes calling for empathy, oftentimes challenging stereotypes, always demanding respect.

Growing up Aboriginal in Australia | Overview: Online resources

Growing up Aboriginal in Australia editor's web site
Includes: background information, reviews, articles and extracts as well as links to teacher's notes.

Growing up Aboriginal in Australia | Overview: Videos

To view these video on campus remember to first login to your school Google account using your mConnect username and password. Click here for more help on using YouTube on campus.

Growing up Aboriginal in Australia | Overview: Curriculum alignment

This Mentone Girls' Grammar School LibGuide supports the following Australian and / or Victorian curriculum outcomes.

Literacy [Australian General Capability.1]
The knowledge and skills needed to access, understand, analyse and evaluate information, make meaning, express thoughts and emotions, present ideas and opinions, interact with others and participate in activities.
more...less...
The Australian General Capability is the national vocabulary identifying important general capabilities that schools should help students develop, in addition to content of particular learning areas. (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, n.d.)
Comprehending texts through listening, reading and viewing [Australian General Capability.11]
Using strategies for reading and viewing texts, including using applied topic knowledge, vocabulary and visual knowledge. Listening for information and to carry out tasks and participate in discussions. Using strategies for comprehending spoken, written, visual and multimodal texts, including retrieving literal information and making inferences.
more...less...
The Australian General Capability is the national vocabulary identifying important general capabilities that schools should help students develop, in addition to content of particular learning areas. (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, n.d.)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures [ACCP]
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are strong, rich and diverse. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity is intrinsically linked to living, learning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, deep knowledge traditions and holistic world view.
more...less...
These national priorities have been defined by The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA). They may include local, regional or global issues.
Intercultural understanding [Australian General Capability.6]
The capacity to process or reflect on the meaning of experience is an essential element in intercultural learning. Reflecting to better understand the actions of individuals and groups in specific situations and how these are shaped by culture. Reflecting on their own responses to intercultural encounters and to identify cultural influences that may have contributed to these. Learning to ‘stand between cultures’ and mediate cultural difference.
more...less...
The Australian General Capability is the national vocabulary identifying important general capabilities that schools should help students develop, in addition to content of particular learning areas. (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, n.d.)