shame and supportshame & support

In the audio and video files in this section learners and trainers talk about their experiences of shame, as well as mechanisms to build a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
The concept of shame used by Aboriginal English speakers is broader than the non-Indigenous use of the word. The meaning of shame extends to include embarrassment in certain situations (Leitner & Malcolm 2007:169) and is often due to attention or circumstances rather than as the result of an action by oneself (Vallance & Tchacos 2001). The feeling of shame can totally overwhelm and disempower a person.

Vallance, R. & Tchacos, E. ( 2001), Research: A Cultural Bridge. Paper presented at the Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) Conference, Freemantle, 2-6 December 2001.
Leitner, G. & Malcolm, I. G. (2007). The habitat of Australia’s aboriginal languages: past, present and future, Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin.


  • What the learners say
  • What the trainers say

Don

DonDon is a qualified mechanic.  He has worked in this role for over 30 years in an Indigenous community.

Don talks about the role of elders in providing role models and showing the way

Don talks about the importance of older people supporting the younger generation into education

Heleana

HeleanaHeleana is a trainee teacher and is enrolled in a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning. She previously worked in the areas of land management and eco-cultural tourism. She has completed the Certificates II and III in Spoken and Written English and is completing her final units in a tertiary preparation course concurrently with her teaching studies.  

Heleana talks about the importance of having Indigenous teachers and tutors

Heleana talks about study from a remote loaction

Heleana talks about more issues with study from a remote loaction

Heleana talks about the importance of communication and the location of training to support effective training outcomes

Heleana talks about the critical role of lecturer support and feedback

Joel

JoelJoel is a work-based apprentice at a regional university campus. He is currently enrolled in Certificate III in Business and is working in an office environment. He has previously completed Certificate III in Music and Certificate in Commercial Cookery

Joel compares the level of support for Indigenous students in two high school environments

Joel talks about the importance of the lecturer in building a supportive classroom environment

Joel talks about support

Joel talks about peer support & shame

Joel talks about friendship

Joel talks about peer support

Angelee

AngeleeAngelee is a work-based apprentice. She is currently enrolled in Certificate III in Business and is working in an office environment.

Angelee talks about benefits of a tutor

Angelee talks about friends and peer pressure

Angelee talks about Indigenous support

Angelee talks about how the teacher cradles them too much

Victor

VictorVictor is a ranger supervisor in an Indigenous community. He has previously completed Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management.

Victor talks about shame in the classroom

Marita

MaritaMarita is enrolled in Certificate II in Spoken and Written English. She lives in an Indigenous community and periodically travels to a regional centre where her course is delivered in intensive study blocks.

Marita talks about studying away from home

Marita talks about support for a young mother to study at school

Marita talks about shyness and shame

Marita talks about feelings in the training room

Nardene

MaritaNardene is the current Vice-Chancellors Indigenous Career Cadet at Charles Darwin University. She is studying a Bachelor of Commerce specialising in marketing. She previously completed a Certificate IV in Marketing and a Certificate IV in Community Services.

Nardene talks about shame and support in the classroom environment

Nardene talks about the shyness and shame

Nardene talks about the support of her trainers

Nardene talks the importance of accessing support from trainers, tutors and the Indigenous Academic Support Unit

Nardene talks about developing confidence in VET and the transition into Higher Education

Nardene talks about the support structures for Indigenous students within the university

Nardene gives some tips to VET lecturers on supporting Indigenous students

Fred

FredFred is a VET trainer. He delivers Certificate I in Work Preparation in Indigenous communities. Most training is conducted in the workplace.

Fred talks about groups

 

 

 

Strategies for trainers:

Identify elders who can act as role models and/or support or mentor younger people in the workplace and in training

Build links between communities, workplaces, workplace supervisors and training

Use Indigenous trainers and support staff to deliver and support training, where available

Communicate to students what academic and other support services (such as Indigenous support academic support, tutoring and library services) are available and facilitate their access to them

Take time to explain to students how training and the training institution works

Facilitate student access to study facilities out of course hours, particularly in communities

Motivate students by building a collegial learning environment

Include collaborative group work into training and assessment

Communicate clearly, in a form and style that learners can understand

Deliver training from locations where the learners are comfortable, including outdoors

Give clear and explicit instructions and direction. Let learners know what skills and knowledge they need to focus on

Clearly express the aims of the training and what the student should aim to achieve

Ensure the curriculum and the course content is relevant to the learners and acknowledges their world view

Increase knowledge and awareness of Indigenous culture and world views through ongoing formal and non-formal professional development and interactions

Listen. Find out what is going on in individual student's lives

Give learners space, or leeway, to accommodate things happening in their lives

Offer your support and follow through with providing it

Make yourself approachable to students

Provide opportunities for students to build relationships with each othe

Establish a peer support mechanism. Speak to students respectfully, as equals

Spend time individually with students, particularly those who are quiet, to ensure they understand the work and can ask questions

Recognise and acknowledge learners' developing skills and knowledge and encourage their ongoing participation and progression in education and training

Find out in a sensitive manner about any kinship taboos, gender or relationship issues that may impact on learner's working together

Don't draw undue attention to individual students in the classroom