Welcome to this edition of Researching education: 5 further readings. In this series, we take a look at some further readings available on a particular topic, including open access research papers from various online catalogues, and Teacher archive content you might not have come across yet.
Next week is National Reconciliation Week – a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The lead body for reconciliation in Australia, Reconciliation Australia, have appointed the 2026 theme as All In, which they say serves as a reminder that reconciliation is not a spectator sport and that all of us must step away from the sidelines and take action to make change.
In this edition of 5 further readings, we're looking at the topic of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. In the list below, you can learn about the findings of a study looking to address gaps in teacher’s knowledge of Indigenous pedagogies, read a paper exploring how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are using artificial intelligence (AI), and explore the Closing the Gap 2025 annual report.
- A differentiated approach to Indigenous pedagogies: addressing gaps in teachers’ knowledge. This paper explores The Differentiated Indigenous Pedagogies project which seeks to address gaps in western, non-Indigenous teacher knowledge related to the diversity within Indigenous language groups and regions. ‘Through searching for available Indigenous pedagogies as a teacher might, we found information differs in description and levels of relationality. Pedagogies are presented in numerous ways which complicates teachers’ cultural understandings,’ the authors conclude. ‘The key to progress is the taking of respectful, relational, and reconciliatory action as opposed to teachers petrifying themselves by fear of being seen to be politically, socially, or culturally imperfect or incorrect. Not wanting to offend is not a reason to do nothing.’
Related Teacher content: The co-author of this paper, Dr Tracy Woodroffe, has also published research findings from a 12-month project looking into boosting the number of First Nations teachers in Australia. She spoke with Teacher about this research project in an article and a podcast.
- Relational Futures: Indigenous Sovereignty and the Governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This paper outlines a research project involving 58 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants aged 18-65. Findings include that respondents are using AI in practical and routine ways, but they see AI as ‘culturally unsafe, politically unaccountable, and embedded within broader systems of extraction, surveillance, and colonial power.’ Respondents were also concerned about the appropriation and misuse of Indigenous knowledge.
- Research summary: Cultural responsiveness in education. This research summary published by the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) outlines research on culturally responsive teaching practices that create culturally safe learning environments. It covers the concept of reflexivity and the implications of their research summary for teachers and school leaders. ‘There is more work to be done to build the evidence base for effective culturally responsive practices, particularly on approaches to implementation that lead to sustained improvement,’ it reveals.
- Distraction in Australian language education policy: a call to re-centre language rights. How does language education policy in Australia address language recognition and language rights for First Nations languages and language learners? How are First Nations languages and language learners represented in the Australian media? These are the 2 guiding research questions for this research project. As described in this paper, the research included quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis. The authors conclude: ‘in the context of First Nations languages and language learners, we have argued “language” is conflated with either “literacy” or “culture” to distract from the sovereign language rights of First Nations peoples in Australia.’
- Commonwealth Closing the Gap 2025 Annual Report and 2026 Implementation Plan. Earlier this year, the Closing the Gap annual report for 2025 was released, which assesses the Commonwealth’s delivery against actions outlined in the 2025 Implementation Plan. This report also outlines the priorities for 2026 to support the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Some of the resources featured in this article can be found through Cunningham Library Catalogue and Learning Ground. At the links below, you can search for more resources on the topic of First Nations education in these 2 online databases.
You can also browse other education topics at this page.
