The Ngarrngga Program at the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Education has entered a new partnership with the BHP Foundation to better equip educators across Australia with the tools, knowledge and confidence to showcase Indigenous knowledges in classrooms.
Led by First Nations educators, Ngarrngga is a nation-building initiative ensuring all students in Australian classrooms learn about the contributions and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Since its launch in 2022, Phase 1 of Ngarrngga has produced over 1,000 free curriculum resources to support teachers across all year levels and learning areas, alongside 19+ hours of professional learning to build educator confidence.
With generous support from the BHP Foundation, Phase 2 will deliver 5,000 more curriculum resources and expand professional learning. It will also strengthen national collaboration through design-based research methodology centered on Indigenous Knowledge systems alongside western pedagogies.
Professor Melitta Hogarth, Director of Ngarrngga, said the success of Phase 1 demonstrates the demand for and the impact of high-quality, educator-focused resources grounded in Indigenous knowledge systems.
"Ngarrngga works within the Australian Curriculum to show how Indigenous Knowledges complement and deepen understanding of the world and our relationships with one another," Professor Hogarth said.
"It has been my privilege to lead Ngarrngga's work to date, which has included deep engagement with educators and communities across the country."
More than 390 stakeholders across 200 organisations contributed to Phase 1, alongside the publication of 79 research outputs.
The project has completed four cycles of curriculum trial and refinement, ensuring materials are tested in real educational settings and continuously improved through evidence-based practice.
"BHP Foundation's investment will enable Ngarrngga's continued growth and sustainability," said Professor Hogarth.
"Australia's educators are key to blazing the trail of this vital work. The current generation of young learners will become the next generation of leaders, whose values and intellect will be enriched by gaining a deep understanding of, and respect for, the world's oldest continuous living culture."
Key aims of the Phase 2 partnership 2026 – 2030 includes:
- Expand development of curriculum resources and exemplars.
- Empower pre‑service and in‑service teachers to strengthen culturally responsive pedagogy and classroom practice.
- Strengthen design‑based research cycles to trial, refine and evaluate curriculum approaches in collaboration with schools and communities.
- Grow partnerships across the education sector, community organisations and research networks to amplify impact and ensure sustainability.
The name Ngarrngga, from the Taungurung language (Central Victoria, Kulin Nation), means to know, to hear, and to understand, reflecting the program's core commitment.
For more information, visit www.ngarrngga.org.
