The Possum Skin Pedagogy Professional Learning Project is funded by the Association of Graduates in Early Childhood Studies (AGECS) and will be conducted over 4 mornings in semester 2.

With the third session coming up later this month, a summary of the project so far has been provided by Dr Sue Lopez-Atkinson, Convenor (Action on Aboriginal Perspectives in Early Childhood) and author of The Possum Skin Pedagogy: A Guide for Early Childhood Practitioners.

On July 27 we had a special beginning to the first of four sessions as Uncle Bill Nicholson, Wurundjeri Elder, formally welcomed us onto Wurundjeri Country; a respectful and culturally appropriate way to establish our learning community as we listen, reflect, converse and explore the central place of possum skins in the Victorian Aboriginal culture over the next few months.

Participants were also introduced to ‘Possum Skin Pedagogy: A Guide for Early Childhood Practitioners’, its history, and place in communicating the intergenerational knowledge of Victorian Aboriginal people.

Our special guest during the second session was an Elder who was consulted during the construction of the document, Aunty Fay Stewart Muir, a Boonwurrung Elder and language specialist. Aunty Fay spoke with the participants around respectfully sharing Aboriginal language with small children.

We are now half way through our learning project and have plenty to explore as more questions are raised with each session. In the third installment participants will be sharing what they have learnt by observing, listening and reflecting on and with the country around them, and in the final session they will be hearing from Vicki Couzens, prominent artist and Kirrae Wurrong/Gunditjimara woman.

We will keep in touch with participants beyond these sessions as conversations and learnings continue.

For more information on this project click here, or read more about AAPEC here.