Teaching Truth: Yarning Strong and the Case for Staying in the Room
By Dr Helen Adam
Many teachers want to meaningfully incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into their teaching but worry about saying the wrong thing. In this thought-provoking article, Dr Helen Adam, Associate Professor of Education at Edith Cowan University and President of PETAA, explores why this discomfort is not a weakness but a sign that these conversations matter.
Drawing on Yarning Strong, she explains how thoughtfully curated First Nations texts can help teachers navigate complex topics such as race, dispossession, Treaty and the Stolen Generations with confidence, authenticity and care. Discover why "staying in the room" is essential for challenging misconceptions, supporting reconciliation, and creating richer learning experiences for all students. Read the full article to explore practical insights and strategies for teaching truth in today's classrooms.
Explore Yarning Strong
Many schools recognise the importance of embedding First Nations perspectives across the curriculum but face challenges finding authentic texts, building teacher confidence and creating meaningful learning experiences throughout the year.
Yarning Strong brings together rich literature by First Nations authors with comprehensive teaching support, helping schools embed these perspectives authentically while supporting explicit English instruction.
Yarning Strong brings together rich literature by First Nations authors with comprehensive teaching support, helping schools embed these perspectives authentically while supporting explicit English instruction.