Democratising the digital divide: civics and citizenship curriculum, Australian Aboriginal communities and social media

Democratising the digital divide: civics and citizenship curriculum, Australian Aboriginal communities and social media

The idea of what constitutes core literacy skills continues to evolve. The importance placed upon the function of social media in the new Civics and Citizenship curriculum reflects the expanding myriad of competences Australian citizens require to live and work in an increasingly digital society. This paper explores the particular facet of an assumed ubiquity of social media engagement between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students and the problems this poses for participation in both democratic processes and higher education. It addresses the implications for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander Peoples with restricted internet access on their capacity to fulfill their civic responsibilities and to develop the digital information literacy skills required for employability. Finally, this paper outlines the parameters of a program of research that will explore how new and social media might be used to increase the participation of Australian Aboriginal youth in formal education and, by extension, how this contributes to civic engagement.

Copyright Social Educators Association of Australia. Published version deposited in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.