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Meeting at Kamay

This resource explores the perspectives of the Aboriginal people of Kamay Botany Bay and the men aboard the HMB Endeavour upon their meeting in 1770. It aims to help students understand the history of Australia's Aboriginal peoples and why stories of the past are important to all of us. This resource is one part of the ...

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Q+A: Media trust

Scandal seems to abound when it comes to the media! In 2012, several events, including the tabloid media phone-hacking scandal in the UK, led to serious questions about whether today's media can be trusted in its reporting of news. This clip from Q&A offers several different perspectives on this issue.

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What is spec fic? Rebecca Lim explains

Have you heard of the term 'spec fic'? What is speculative fiction? If you're interested in reading some, why not find out more about the books that Rebecca Lim refers to.

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Changing ideas and discovering themes in stories

Have you ever started out with an idea for a story and later realised you wanted to change it? You're not the only one! In fact, changing your mind is all part of the process of writing. Listen as author Tony Wilson explains how the idea for his book 'The Cow Tripped over the Moon' changed over time. What was his initial ...

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Heywire: Young people making a difference

Have you ever considered what it must be like to be homeless? Often it is not until we are confronted with a personal experience that we realise the significance of such social issues. Luke Owens from Bendigo Victoria, was a finalist of the 2012 Heywire storytelling competition for young people. Listen to how he found out ...

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Writing drafts with Sally Rippin

Listen as Sally Rippin describes how her reading feeds into her writing. Why does she sometimes stop reading when she's in the early stages of writing a new story? Do you write a few drafts of your stories before you get to your final version? What does Sally say about the first draft of a story?

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Rebecca Lim's advice for writers

Do you want to be a writer? Watch this clip to get some tips from author Rebecca Lim. What are some of the things she suggests? Find out about writing competitions - and enter one!

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Sally Rippin on authors and illustrators

Watch this clip to find out about the relationship between authors and illustrators. What role does the publisher play in this relationship? What does Sally Rippin say about the role of illustrations in books for young children?

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Listening for rhythm with author Tony Wilson

Tony Wilson says that listening to rhyming books is like listening to music. How are they similar? Read a rhyming book out loud or ask someone to read one to you, and see if you can hear the rhythm. Can you clap along to it? Think about rhythm when you write your next story. Can you write something that has a beat?

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Feathers, Fur and Fins: A song about echidnas

What would it be like to have an echidna for a pet? Listen to Don Spencer as he sings this song about a pet echidna. Watch an echidna looking for food to eat.

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Feathers, Fur and Fins: A song about kangaroos

This is a song about an Australian animal, the kangaroo. Don Spencer sings lyrics about how people from all over the world come to see the kangaroo. Listen to the rhythm. It is like the hopping of a kangaroo.

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Heywire: Perspectives of 'a copper's daughter'

What perspectives on life do you think the daughter of a policeman in a coastal town might have? In this Heywire audio story, Jordyn Royle reveals both how her her dad's job affects her and that not everybody shares her attitudes towards the police. As you listen, think about how Jordyn's attitudes and values, and those ...

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What do you call someone who plays a flute?

What do teenage writers Noa and Francis love about writing? Do you love writing for similar reasons? Or for different ones? Francis says that practice makes perfect when it comes to writing. He also says that thinking won't make you a better writer, writing will. Noa says that reading more has helped her improve her writing. How?

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Heywire: Drinking the substitute

While working as a barmaid, Cara Ferguson formed strong views about alcohol. Listen to her Heywire audio story and consider how she represents heavy drinking. Find out her attitude to the glamorisation of alcohol consumption and the downplaying of dangers associated with it. How does she maximise the impact of her views?<br ...

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Ready, steady, cook … park

Is there a place in your neighbourhood that is special to you, or that you visit regularly? See if you can create a report about this place, the way the reporter in this clip has done about Cook Park in Orange, NSW.

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Libraries in decline

Did you know that libraries have been around for over 4000 years? For a very long time, you could only borrow books from libraries, but in recent years this has changed. You can now borrow magazines, DVDs, CDs and even download ebooks! How does Sarah, the reporter, feel about this? How does Debra, the librarian, feel about ...

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BTN: Paying for the news, or not

Imagine a time before modern technology: no television, radio or computers. How did people find out about what was happening in the world? Through newspapers! Times are changing, however. With the internet at our fingertips, do we even need newspapers anymore? Watch this clip to find out how the internet is creating issues ...

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Feathers, Fur and Fins: A song about koalas

Some people mistakenly call a koala a bear, but it's not. Listen to this fun song by Don Spencer to find out how a koala might feel about being called a bear.

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Interviews With 10 Australian Authors, Ch 6: Gary Crew's Strange Objects

How do you use research in a fiction novel that is based on historical events? What is the real symbolism of the ring? Why should a writer have a ‘day job'? Listen to Gary Crew answer these questions about Strange Objects in this interview.

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BTN: Is reality TV 'real'?

How real is 'reality TV'? Is what we see on a show like 'Masterchef' or 'The Biggest Loser' reality? Or are these shows using a carefully contrived recipe to make us believe that what we are seeing is real? Discover what really goes on behind the scenes of reality TV and how 'reality' can be changed by careful editing.