Why Embedding Indigenous Cultural Awareness in ICT Curriculum is an Imperative

Abstract

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage is widely acknowledged, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is increasingly recognised as a significant contributor to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage. In 2017, all Australian universities committed to ensuring all students engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural content as integral parts of their curriculum. ICT curricula across Australia have mostly not engaged in the processes of extensive curriculum indigenisation which focus on embedding cultural content throughout a course. This study seeks to uncover the issues that arise for Indigenous peoples from the prevalence of ICT, by exploring relevant academic research papers and government reports. This knowledge will be used to identify why cultural content should be embedded within ICT curricula. The study concludes that it is imperative for graduating ICT professionals to have an awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and perspectives to reduce the impact of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage caused by ICT. The findings are a major contribution to the growing area of research on why and how to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural knowledges and perspectives within an ICT curriculum.