Gifted and talented children

• Reach:

  Not specified

• Focus area:

  Indigenous

• Status:

  Completed

• Evaluated:

  No

Overview

Eight Yolngu consultants came to Darwin from Arnhemland for a research workshop looking at gifted and talented children. The plain language statement prepared for the Charles Darwin University ethics committee said;

Yolngu elders can often identify very special young people who will grow up to be leaders in ceremony, in clan groups, in the community or in politics. Unfortunately, the school system does not understand these points of view.

The Gifted and talented project brought Yolngu elders and educators together as a focus group to talk about:

• how can we tell which Yolngu children are the leaders of the future

• Yolngu words used to describe these young people and what they mean

• what do these children need to learn to be a leader

• what role will they fill as leaders

• how does the family and community work together to support these young people as they mature

• what should school teachers and education departments know about these young people

• what should school teachers and education departments do to help these young people.

Abstract adapted from Yolngu Aboriginal Consultants Initiative

Links

• View information: Gifted and talented children
• View website: Charles Darwin University
• View website: Yolngu Aboriginal Consultants Initiative