The Koori Curriculum Book Summit 2025
Please note: access to the Koori Curriculum Book Summit will be for 2 weeks from the 16th of August, ending on the 30th of August, 2025.
The first 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're 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.
What attendees are saying about the Koori Curriculum Book Summit:
"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
"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
"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
"Superb. Having read some of Bruce's books, I enjoyed sitting at the feet of this knowledgeable and deep-thinking man, and appreciated his light-hearted and practical manner as well." - Suzanne Turner
"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
"Thank you Adam, Ellie and David, it was lovely hearing you speak about the process of bringing these wonderful books to life. Somebody's Land has been on high rotation at our place, it gives us goosebumps to hear the children tell the story along with us" - Sarah Smith
Announced speakers:
- Shelley Ware - 'We Are Matildas'
- Jacqueline Dinan Co-Author - 'Dads Gone Away'
- Victor Steffensen - 'Looking After Country'
- Trish Butler - 'When The Trees Disappeared' & ' Way Away'
- Ros Moriarty - 'Beach Song'
- Samantha Campbell - Illustrator - 'Beach Song'
- Thomas Mayo - 'Our Flag, Our Story, The Torres Strait Islander Flag'
- Amy Lea Hill-Trindall - Illustrator - 'EZY Series'
- Corey Tutt - 'Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles.
- Greg Smith - 'Welcome To Bush Tucker Plants'
- Jaydn Boundry - 'Boodja Barna'
- Ebony Froome - 'Djinang Bonar - Seeing Seasons'
- Tyrown Waigana - Illustrator - 'Boodja Barna'
- Melissa-Jane Fogarty - 'Tubowgule'
- Dylan Finney - Illustrator - 'Tubowgule'
FAQ:
Q: How do I access the Koori Curriculum Book Summit after I purchase?
A: After you purchase your ticket you will be sent a series of emails:
- An order confirmation email with receipt of purchase
- An email with your login details to the book summit platform
- 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.
Q: When can I access the book summit?
A: 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.
Q: How long are the sessions?
A: Each session will be a minimum of 30 mins in length up to 60 mins.
Q: I work at a Primary School. Would the Book Summit still be relevant?
A: The Koori Curriculum Book Summit is targeted toward 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. You might find shortcomings in the lesson plans and suggested activities and experiences as these again will be tailored towards a younger age group.
Q: Is there a group rate?
A: Yes, for groups up to 5 people, the rate is $330 Inc GST. Please note that groups of less than 4 are advised to purchase individual tickets as this will be more cost-effective. For more than 5 people, please purchase a combination of individual and group tickets or multiple group tickets.
Q: I purchased a group ticket, how do I get my team to access the Koori Curriculum Book Summit?
A: 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.
Q: How long is my access valid for once I purchase?
A: All ticket holders receive 2 weeks of access to the Facebook group and presentations after the 16th of August 2025. Access will end on the 30th of August 2025.
Q: Do you offer refunds on the book summit?
A: 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 at info@kooricurriculum.com
Q: Are the sessions live and do I need to attend live, or will recordings be available?
A: 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.
Q: Are copies of the books included in my ticket?
A: No. To keep the book summit as cost-effective as possible, we do not provide copies of the books. However, all ticket holders gain access to a special VIP discount that provides a 20% on all books in the Koori Curriculum store for the duration of the summit.
Q: Is the content in the Koori Curriculum Book Summit NESA accredited?
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