First Contact
Who were the first people living in Australia?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
Which country colonised Australia?
→ Britain (England)
Did Aboriginal people live in groups or alone?
→ In groups
Did colonisation help or harm Aboriginal people?
→ Harmed (you can accept “mostly harmed”)
What does the word “colony” mean?
→ A place controlled by another country
Who was one group of Europeans to arrive in Australia in 1788?
→ The British (or British settlers / convicts)
Who was sent to Australia as punishment?
Convicts
Name one way Aboriginal people got food.
→ Hunting, fishing, gathering
Name one problem caused by colonisation.
→ Loss of land, disease, violence, loss of culture
What does “terra nullius” mean?
→ Land belonging to no one
What is meant by “first contact”?
→ The first time Aboriginal people and Europeans met
Give one reason Britain wanted to colonise Australia.
→ To send convicts, gain land, increase power, or control trade routes
What is one tool or item Aboriginal people used?
→ Spear, boomerang, digging stick, coolamon
How did disease affect Aboriginal people?
→ Many became sick or died because they had no immunity
What is one example of conflict between Aboriginal people and settlers?
→ Fighting over land, violence, resistance
Name one way Aboriginal people and Europeans first interacted.
→ Trade, conflict, communication, sharing land, or fighting
Why was Australia useful to Britain as a colony?
→ It was far away, had land and resources, and could hold convicts
Why was the land important to Aboriginal people?
→ It provided food, shelter, and had spiritual meaning
What happened to Aboriginal land after colonisation?
→ It was taken by settlers
Why do people today learn about contact and colonisation?
→ To understand history, learn from the past, and promote respect
Why did first contact change life for Aboriginal people?
→ It led to loss of land, disease, conflict, and changes to culture
Which reason for colonisation do you think was most important? Why?
→ Answers will vary, for example: convicts, power, land (any justified answer)
How was Aboriginal life different before and after colonisation?
→ Before: lived on land freely; After: lost land, culture disrupted, faced laws and disease
Why do the impacts of colonisation still matter today?
→ They still affect Aboriginal communities, culture, and rights
What is one thing you think students should remember about this topic?
→ Colonisation had serious impacts and Aboriginal history is important