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Virtual Conference

Join from anywhere, at home or with your team

Private Facebook Group

Join in the fun with other attendees

2 Week Access

To presentations and Facebook Group

Multiple Speakers

We have numerous speakers sharing insights

Book Discounts

Get an exclusive 20% discount on book titles during the summit

Individual & Group Tickets

Individual and group options available

Go beyond the pages of some deadly stories!

Go beyond the pages of some deadly stories!

The only conference dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s stories is here. And it’s virtual!

The Koori Curriculum Book Summit will allow Educators to hear directly from these master storytellers about what is behind the stories they have shared. Educators will walk away with ideas and inspiration on how they can scaffold and build upon some of their favourite stories.

This is your opportunity to embrace embedding an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective through storytelling. Whether you are an early childhood educator, primary teacher, OOSHC educator or you are looking to include more First Nation perspectives at home this summit has something for you.

Throughout the summit, you will have the chance to interact with Jessica Staines Director of the Koori Curriculum and other attendees in the pop-up Facebook group. This is where you can ask questions, share your learnings and participate in challenges to win some deadly prizes.

We’ve selected some of Australia’s best First Nation and non-Indigenous children’s authors and illustrators who have produced some of the most beloved books with an Aboriginal perspective.

The only conference dedicated to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s stories is here. And it’s virtual!

The Koori Curriculum Book Summit will allow Educators to hear directly from these master storytellers about what is behind the stories they have shared. Educators will walk away with ideas and inspiration on how they can scaffold and build upon some of their favourite stories.

This is your opportunity to embrace embedding an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective through storytelling. Whether you are an early childhood educator, primary teacher, OOSHC educator or you are looking to include more First Nation perspectives at home this summit has something for you.

Throughout the summit, you will have the chance to interact with Jessica Staines Director of the Koori Curriculum and other attendees in the pop-up Facebook group. This is where you can ask questions, share your learnings and participate in challenges to win some deadly prizes.

We’ve selected some of Australia’s best First Nation and non-Indigenous children’s authors and illustrators who have produced some of the most beloved books with an Aboriginal perspective.

Book Your Tickets

Meet The Koori Curriculum

2025 Book Summit Presenters

Jessica Staines

Jessica Staines is an early childhood educator, advocate and professional speaker, with more than fifteen years of experience working with providers in both urban and regional communities.As the founder of the multiple award-winning Koori Curriculum, Jessica’s commitment to social justice, reconciliation and anti-bias practices drives her to empower educators to be more culturally aware and inclusive. She facilitates a range of professional development programs, resources and workshops for educators that help guide the inclusion of Aboriginal perspectives in early childhood curriculums.

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Shelley Ware

Shelley Ware is a proud Yankunytjatjara and Wirangu woman from Adelaide, South Australia, who currently lives in Melbourne and is well known as part of the ground-breaking NITV football programs Marngrook and The Point. For the past decade or so, Shelley has worked in the media as a radio, podcast, print and television presenter on both local and national AFL football news shows. Shelley is a teacher, curriculum resource writer and education consultant who supports teachers and students in embedding First Nations culture and history into their everyday curriculum.

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Corey Tutt

Deadly Science, founded by Corey Tutt, addresses the lack of STEM resources in regional and remote schools in Australia. Fuelled by Corey's passion for STEM and his experience of limited opportunities for Aboriginal people in this field, Deadly Science provides resources and learning experiences to bridge this gap. Corey's initiative began with personal efforts to support schools, leading to the establishment of Deadly Science in 2018. Since then, it has evolved into Australia's leading Indigenous STEM charity, impacting over 800 schools and community organizations nationwide.

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Jacqueline Dinan

Jacqueline Dinan, a former foster carer, has supported children with incarcerated parents and hosted an Indigenous teenager from a remote Northern Territory community to help them complete secondary school. Inspired by Andrew Krakouer's story, she co-authored My Dad’s Gone Away, an Australian-first children's book addressing parental incarceration. Jacqueline has also written A Woman’s War, Between the Dances, and Racing the Boys, celebrating remarkable women. A Melbourne-based funeral celebrant, Jacqueline grew up on a farm in South Gippsland and is a passionate North Melbourne supporter. She has three adult sons and three grandchildren.

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Victor Steffensen

Victor Steffensen is an Indigenous writer, filmmaker, musician, and consultant from the Tagalaka people of north Queensland. Over 27 years, he has focused on reviving traditional knowledge, particularly traditional burning, through workshops and projects with both Aboriginal and non-Indigenous communities. Co-founder of the National Indigenous Fire Workshops, he has worked across Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria, and has connected with First Nations communities in California, Canada, and the Sámi people of Scandinavia, sharing knowledge on caring for country.

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Ros Moriarty

Ros Moriarty, former journalist with Radio Australia, is the creative and managing director of Balarinji, Australia's leading Indigenous design studio, which she co-founded in 1983. Balarinji is known for its iconic Qantas 747 Indigenous art livery and has supported Indigenous artists across Australia. Over 27 years, Ros has worked on significant projects like the Emu Dreaming tutu for the Australian Ballet and the Hands across the Land poster for the 2000 Reconciliation Walk. She also co-founded the Moriarty Foundation, which focuses on early literacy education. Ros is the author of four children’s books and the memoir Listening to Country. She lives in Sydney with her husband, John, and their three adult children.

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Samantha Campbell

Samantha Campbell is a published Children's Book Illustrator & Graphic Designer based in Alice Springs, Northern Territory.Samantha is descended from the Dagoman people from Katherine and as a child lived in remote Aboriginal communities across the Top End. Samantha studied Graphic Design in Melbourne in 2013 and worked as a freelance Graphic Designer for four years before illustrating her first children's book Alfred's War, written by Rachel Bin Salleh (Alfred's War was later shortlisted for two literary awards).Since then, she has become hooked on illustrating children's books, and continues to work as a Graphic Designer and illustrator for Coolamon Creative.

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Thomas Mayo

Thomas Mayo is a Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander author who was born and raised in Darwin.  After working on the wharves in Darwin and Sydney, he took on leadership roles within the Maritime Union of Australia. Thomas Mayo was elected as an Assistant National Secretary in 2023.  As a signatory to the Uluru Statement from the Heart in 2017, he has been instrumental in driving the national campaign for Constitutional Recognition of Australia’s First Nations peoples ever since. Thomas Mayo's books discuss First Nations people’s struggle for justice, recognition and equity.

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Amy Lea Hill-Tindal

Amy Lea Hill-Tindall is a contemporary Indigenous artist from the Gamilaroi Mob and a Sutherland Shire local. Widely recognized in her community, she previously served as a board member for the Kurranulla Aboriginal Corporation and has acquired invaluable knowledge from her Elders. Living on Dharawal Country in the Illawarra, Amy has been an active community member since childhood. As she reflects, “Yura mari ngara yanga marri, barrbanga gurlibuwa” – "People become great as they hear and do good things, learning the proper way of maintaining our heritage."

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Alexander Johnston

Alex Johnston is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a winger and fullback for the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL. He has played for both Australia and Papua New Guinea at international level.

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Greg Smith

Greg Smith is a proud Kamilaroi man living in the Southern Highlands. He happily shares aspects of Indigenous culture from bush tucker, and discussed the partnership between country, plant, and animals.

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Patsy Cameron

Aunty Patsy Cameron grew up on Flinders Island and can trace her Aboriginal heritage through her mother’s line to four Ancestral grandmothers; Pleenpereener, Wyerlooberer, Teekoolterme and Pollerelbrener. At the head of her family is Teekoolterme’s father, the revered Pairrebeenne/Trawlwoolway Clan leader, formidable warrior and seer, Mannalargenna.

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Trish Butler

Trish Butler is a singer/songwriter depicting real stories which she delivers through music, song and dance. She was born in Engadine, New South Wales where her deep love and respect for nature began at a young age whilst exploring the wonders of the Royal National Park. Trish has published two children's books written after the success of her CD Look Learn Sing Dance also based on Australian animals. She will continue to write these important stories for our children and adults alike for a more sustainable lifestyle, also for the urgent need to repair Mother Earth after the destructive fires in 2019/20. 

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Jayden Boundry

Jayden Boundry is Wadjak Balardong Noongar and Badimaya Yamatji. He is a Noongar language teacher and cultural consultant, didgeridoo player, traditional dancer and storyteller with Ngalak Nidja.

Ebony Froome

Ebony was born and raised on Wardandi boodja in Busselton, WA. While she maintains strong ties to her home, she now lives in Perth, on Whadjuk boodja, with her family.

Tyrown Waigana

Tyrown Waigana is a Wardandi Noongar (south-west cape country) and Ait Koedhal (Torres Strait Islander) multidisciplinary artist and graphic designer.

Melissa-Jane Fogarty

Melissa-Jane Fogarty is a kidlit author/illustrator and freelance editor and writer. She’s of Mununjali descent, living on Darkinjung land, NSW, Australia.Melissa’s debut picture book Tubowgule: A Sydney Opera House History will be published by Hachette Australia on 26 March, 2025.

Dylan Finney

Dylan Finney is an Australian-born graphic designer and artist. He is a proud descendant of the Yanula and Mara clans, and also has English and Irish heritage. He lives on Darkinjung land. His work explores identity and culture - inspired by people, places, animals, light and colour. Dylan lives on the NSW Central Coast.

Pricing

Pricing

Individual

Access to all presentations for three months.

$93 inc GST

Ticket to the conference

Access to presentations and Facebook group for 2 weeks after the end of the summit

Event Facebook Group

Lesson Plans

Challenges

Prizes

20% discount on book titles during summit duration

Summit Workbook

Group (for up to 5 people)

Access to all presentations for three months.

$330 inc GST

Ticket to the conference (up to 5 attendees)

Access to presentations and Facebook group for 2 weeks after the end of the summit

Event Facebook Group

Lesson Plans

Challenges

Prizes

20% discount on book titles during summit duration

Summit Workbook

Individual

Access to all presentations for three months.

$93 inc GST

Ticket to the conference

Access to presentations and Facebook group for 2 weeks after the end of the summit

Event Facebook Group

Lesson Plans

Challenges

Prizes

20% discount on book titles during summit duration

Summit Workbook

Group (for up to 5 people)

Access to all presentations for three months.

$330 inc GST

Ticket to the conference (up to 5 attendees)

Access to presentations and Facebook group for 2 weeks after the end of the summit

Event Facebook Group

Lesson Plans

Challenges

Prizes

20% discount on book titles during summit duration

Summit Workbook

BOOK YOUR TICKETS HERE

What attendees have said about our past Koori Curriculum Book Summits:

"I loved this presentation. Thank you to Thomas! I read an excerpt from Dear Son just now and it made me cry - I don't have a son but I have two brothers still in school that I think I might have to buy it for."
Sarah Hayes
"Hearing language spoken in this way gives me hope that someday my daughter will grow up in a world where our language returns, is expressed as you have, in power and comfort, and that she will go on to share it. Thank you endlessly for this reading."
Sara Vikernes
"I really was inspired by so many! Thank you for all your time and effort to put this together! I feel blessed that so many people are able to share their knowledge and journeys."
Debbie Bradfield
"You have made your book come so alive to me...thank you is not enough...for giving them to us and teaching us."
Kerrie Devir
"Wow! This is just the information I needed! Thank you"
Esther Priestley
"So much information just amazing and, so many things to think about thank you for the insight just awesome"
Kerry Strickland

Check Out Our Book Summit Collection

"Looking After Country with Fire: Aboriginal Burning Knowledge With Uncle Kuu" By Victor Steffensen (Hardcover) $26.99 AUD
"Our Flag, Our Story The Torres Strait Islander Flag" By Bernard Jnr Namok, Thomas Mayo, Tori-Jay Mordey (Illustrator) $27.99 AUD
"We are Matildas" By Shelley Ware, Serena Geddes (Hardcover) $19.99 AUD
"Welcome to Bush Tucker Plants " By Greg Smith (Author), Leila Warne (Illustrator) $30.00 AUD
"Look Learn Sing Dance" By Trish & Noel Butler $25.00 AUD
“When The Trees Disappeared" By Trish Butler. Illustrated by Elizabeth Hawkes $31.00 AUD
"A Footy Tail" By Alexander Johnston, Gregg Dreise (Illustrator) $19.99 AUD
"Sky Country" By Aunty Patsy Cameron, Illustrated by Lisa Kennedy (Hardcover) $27.99 AUD
"Ezy by the River" by Jodi Edwards & Amy Lea Hill-Trindall $12.00 AUD
"Budjaan and Ezy: Ezy Learns Dharawal From the Birds" By Jodi Edwards & Amy Lea Hill-Trindall $12.00 AUD
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FAQ

After you purchase your ticket you will be sent a series of emails:

  1. An order confirmation email with receipt of purchase
  2. An email with your login details to the book summit platform
  3. A welcome email with useful information on the book summit

These emails can take up to 2 business hours after your purchase to arrive. After you have received the final welcome email your access to the Koori Curriculum Book Summit will be complete.

The Koori Curriculum Book Summit begins on the 16th of August 2025, you will gain access to the learning platform and the Facebook group as soon as you purchase your ticket.

Each session will be a minimum of 30 mins in length up to 60 mins.

The Koori Curriculum Book Summit is targeted towards early childhood educators. However, many primary teachers find the information transferable to their context.

Looking at the presenters and their books a lot of their content would be applicable. Where you might find shortcomings in the lesson plans and suggested activities and experiences as these again will be tailored towards a younger age group.

Yes, for groups up to 5 people, the rate is $300. Please note that groups of less then 4 are advised to purchase individual tickets as this will be more cost effective. For groups of more then 5 people, please purchase a combination of individual and group tickets, or multiple group tickets.

Please send an email to info@kooricurriculum.com once your complete your purchase and include the first name, last name and email address of the team members who require access.

Yes. For members of the Koori Curriculum Club we are offering a 20% discount on individual and group ticket prices. Information on this and your discount code will be sent to memebrs via email and also located in the bonus resource section of their learning hub.

All ticket holders receive 2 week access to the Facebok group and presentations after the 15th of August. Access will end on the 30th of August 2025.

We are confident that once you purchase the book summit you'll be sure you made the right decision. If you any reason you change your mind, there is a 7 day cooling off period after you have purchased. Please contact us oninfo@kooricurriculum.com

The book summit sessions are prerecorded so that we can edit the videos to make the experience as seamless as possible. Therefore all sessions once released into the Koori Curriculum Book Summit platform can be watched anytime. However to get the most out of the conference and the online discussions that will take place we do recommend you watch them as per the schedule.

No. To keep the book summit as cost effective as possible, we do not provide copies of the recommended books. However all ticket holders gain access to a special VIP discount that provides a 20% on the book summit book collection in the Koori Curriculum store.

As of 5th February 2021, NESA deregistered all early childhood providers and any courses they had accredited, this included any offered by the Koori Curriculum.

Information about the new processes for accreditation of PD courses, including course content criteria, is expected to be available on the NESA website around mid-July 2021 and applications will open shortly after that time. We aim to applying for accreditation during this time.

Early Learning Educators are able to log completed hours under Elective PD course hours as they will count equally for teachers who are completing their Maintenance of Accreditation in 2021 and 2022:  https://www.educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/teacher-accreditation/meeting-requirements/maintaining-accreditation/maintenance-transition-arrangements

Should you have any further queries on this, please reach out to the Department of Education directly on +61 2 9367 8291 or email on PD@nesa.nsw.edu.au

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