Building the knowledge of university graduates as to Indigenous cultures, histories and contemporary social realities requires innovation in legal education. At the same time, universities are under increasing pressure to demonstrate to the legal profession how they are guiding students to develop requisite skills and knowledge in statutory interpretation. This article showcases how these dual aims may be advanced through an examination of the legislative framework that led to the Stolen Generations in NSW. These historical legislative artefacts provide the ‘hook’ to aid critical reflection on the role of the legal profession in the context of the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. Using legislation enables students to build a foundation in the principles of statutory interpretation that can be further developed throughout the Bachelor of Laws curriculum. This article reflects on a teaching strategy adopted in a first-year introductory law subject to advance both the embedding of Indigenous cultural competence and knowledge of the general principles of statutory interpretation. The approach is outlined, alongside an analysis of the benefits and limitations. The article emphasises the importance of recognising the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures in conjunction with an analysis of structural and historically legal forms of racial discrimination. The paper also highlights the value of meaningful consultation and collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to facilitate teaching innovation in law curriculum.
Recent Australian research has identified that the success of an Indigenous business greatly relies on the business acumen of its owner. Whilst business education offered through Business Schools is seemingly open to all, Indigenous Australian participation in these educational offerings have been low. In contrast the number of Indigenous businesses emerging in Australia over the past decade is building a demand for Indigenous specific business education offerings. The MURRA Indigenous Business Master Class at Melbourne Business School is such an example of an Indigenous business education program. We discuss how this program implements an andragogical philosophy into the Indigenous teaching and learning approach of business education to take into consideration an individual’s cultural and business knowledge to contextualise business learning. This paper identifies a framework of andragogy principles that contributes to the learning environment for Indigenous entrepreneurs. We identify four key learning principles and offer an evidence based model to progress business education. Through well designed Indigenous business education, business education can provide Indigenous entrepreneurs with an effective learning environment that integrates their cultural identity, highlights Indigenous knowledges and allows for the development of skills to support self-determination practices.
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