Each year, Cherrybrook Technology High School students travel from Sydney to Canberra to carry out research at AIATSIS for their HSC Aboriginal Studies course.
In December 2019, 11 students conducted research on topics including storytelling, incarceration; Aboriginal people in entertainment, birthing on country, Aboriginal students in the education system, what makes health services work for Aboriginal people, Aboriginal music, and gender and sexuality. AIATSIS staff prepared handouts for the students to help them research their topic, including suggested catalogue searches, a list of relevant items in the collection, and links to pertinent online resources. They gave the students instruction on locating resources in the collection, and on using AIATSIS’ Mura catalogue and TROVE.
The teacher said:
… the students were so appreciative of your support they wanted to go back. The students believe the first visit we had was so good it needed to be followed up with another visit at the end of the trip. You really helped them get underway with their topics. Their enthusiasm has grown.
A former student said:
I have found Aboriginal Studies to be interesting and worthwhile and important not only as a student, but also as a person and as an Australian. AIATSIS staff also find these visits rewarding and inspiring.