We Always Stay: stories from seven remarkable Aboriginal teachers in remote Australia

We Always Stay contains the stories of seven remarkable teachers from remote communities in central Australia. All of these teachers speak, read and write in at least their own language as well as English. Many of them are multilingual in several Aboriginal languages. All of the teachers have worked in their respective schools in the communities of Yuendumu, Nyirrpi, Ntaria (Hermannsburg), Papunya and Areyonga, for over 30 years in a range of capacities. All of these women have completed a four year teaching degree and are fully qualified classroom teachers.

These stories were initially gathered as part of a PhD process which was used as a vehicle to explore the wider and important learning that might be gleaned about what supports and what hinders success when Aboriginal people from remote communities embark on the journey to become a teacher. However, once the stories were spoken, recorded and written down we realized that it was important to share them with a wider audience. Together we decided to make this book. By listening to these stories we believe we can develop a better understanding of the supports and barriers for Aboriginal teachers when they undertake teacher education.

We hope that you will enjoy sharing in these stories as much as we have. Stories have a great power to create a space of understanding and shared knowledge between people. It is our hope that through this book many Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous people will develop a much better understanding about what it means for Aboriginal people to teach their kids their way in their own schools.