Ngarnga Djilbruk

^{Respectful Learning through Contemporary Indigenous Theatre}

Ngarnga Djilbruk (respectful learning) invites students into a powerful creative journey that culminates in performing their own work onstage at Bunjil Place - a rare chance to share learning with peers in a world-class venue and work alongside practising artists who bring cultural insight and creative excellence.

Aligned with the Victorian Curriculum 2.0, the program supports students to explore how Drama—including work created and performed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples—celebrates and challenges diverse perspectives of Australian identity. Using contemporary Indigenous theatre as a key stimulus, students collaborate to explore, develop, create and present contemporary Australian theatre that reflects multiple viewpoints.

Teachers are supported every step of the way through clear guidance, rich resources, and a structure that makes delivering this curriculum area both achievable and deeply rewarding.

Ngarnga Djilbruk empowers teachers to offer dynamic, culturally grounded learning experiences that spark curiosity, build understanding, and stay with students long after the curtain falls.

Who this is for

Year 9 and 10 Drama students

What students will do

• Explore contemporary Indigenous theatre as a stimulus for inquiry and respectful learning

• Evaluate how drama and theatre celebrate and challenge perspectives of Australian identity

• Collaborate to devise an original performance work and refine it through rehearsal

• Participate in a technical rehearsal and perform onstage at Bunjil Place

• Gain insight into professional theatre-making through a behind-the-scenes experience (production team + back-of-house tour)

• On performance day, learn about local Aboriginal culture and Boonwurrung language from Traditional Custodian Jaeden Williams

What teachers can expect

• A clear, curriculum-aligned structure: explore → develop → create → present

• Introductory teacher session to support planning, curriculum alignment and assessment pathways

• 3 in-school mentorship workshops with First Nations artists (dates to be aligned with schools’ normal timetables)

• Resources and guidance designed for busy teachers, supporting confident delivery and meaningful reflection

Program inclusions

• 1 x teacher introduction session

• 3 x in-school mentorship workshops with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous artists

• Technical rehearsal + performance day at Bunjil Place

• Behind-the-scenes venue access: production team + back-of-house tour

Curriculum links (Victorian Curriculum 2.0)

• How drama including work created and/or performed by First Nations, celebrates and challenges multiple perspectives of Australian identity, VC2ADR10E02

• Creating drama and producing theatre for audiences using narrative and non-narrative forms, elements of drama and style-specific conventions to communicate ideas, meaning and intention, VC2ADR10C01

• How to reflect on, analyse, evaluate and document their own and others’ drama work to inform choices and interpretations made both as artists and as audiences, VC2ADR10D0

• How to plan, rehearse, refine, present and perform improvised, devised and scripted drama in different contexts to a range of audiences in a range of spaces, VC2ADR10P01

   

Eligibility

This program is offered to local government schools. A small number of non-government schools can apply.

Subsidies

Subsidies may be available for relief teachers and bus travel.

Partners and Acknowledgement 

This program is a collaboration between Drama Victoria and the Bunjil Place Education team.

Bunjil Place acknowledges the support of the Department of Education, Victoria, through the Strategic Partnerships Program.