Indigenous issues in role play

Your name: Amy Cleland

Field or discipline: Social Work and Social Science
Program: BA Social Work
Course: Indigenous Australians and Human Services
Year level: 3
Class size: 50
Activity type: Tutorial, 2 hours

Description: A two-hour tutorial with a role-play exercise depicting the invasion and colonisation of Australia, the displacement of Aboriginal people and communities, and examples of the effects of colonisation and removals on Indigenous health, well-being and social structure/families.

The exercises conducted by an Indigenous academic who reach the script, and a non-indigenous academic, who makes the role of government officials, colonisers etc. The students enact the role of Aboriginal people in various communities across South Australia. This sensitive topic requires accuracy in its delivery to ensure participants understand the purpose and intent of the exercise.

As the tutorials two hours, one hour from the role-play, break, and the remaining time to debrief and discuss the role-play and consider historical documents to reinforce the stories from the role-play. This structure provides valuable space and time for students to process and reflect on what they have learnt, felt, share experiences and reactions and formulate questions for academic staff.

One of the biggest challenges in the field of human and social services is collaboratively working with Indigenous people and groups and working and responding effectively with Indigenous clients. In a symbolic way, this tutorial demonstrates that it can happen and is happening in many sectors in various ways. In this context, non-Indigenous and Indigenous people remembering, learning, and the knowledge in history and past events in order to understand the present and what they may encounter with clients in the field. the overwhelming response from students, indicated during and at the end of the tutorial and following via e-mail sent to the program director, indicate that this format was effective in teaching and learning from this course and engage students in the experience and learning.

Application: This approach would suit programs that require graduates to work in collaboration with Indigenous Australians.