Water in Aboriginal culture
Water in Aboriginal Culture teaches students about the strong connection Aboriginal people have to water. Students will explore Aboriginal water management and conservation practices that date back over 60,000 years. By exploring these ideas, students will understand how their actions can shape the future of our water systems.
How it works
Choose from our incursions or view our Walk with the Waugal videos to learn more about Aboriginal knowledge and practices.
Whichever option you choose, our educational resources align with the West Australian Curriculum, including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture cross-curricular priority.
Water in Aboriginal culture incursion
In our Water in Aboriginal Culture incursion, students will gain a deeper understanding of traditional water management. They will also explore sustainable practices related to significant waterways on Wadjuk Country. Through storytelling, multimedia and cultural artefacts, students will actively recognise Noongar knowledge systems and the cultural significance of water. This will provide insight into how waterways continue to be cared for and sustainably managed today.
The Waterwise School Education team offers free hands-on incursions at your school in the Perth metropolitan area. Book online to begin the conversation with our team.
Number of students per session: 20 – 30 (one class)
Minimum session: 2
Minimum total students: 60
Length of sessions: 45 – 60mins
Our Water in Aboriginal Culture incursion for Pre-primary to Year 1 topics include:
- the connection of Aboriginal people to the land, sea, sky and waterways
- traditional, sustainable practices of Noongar people for locating, treating, transporting and conserving water
- interconnection of plants, animals, people, the environment and water.
Number of students per session: 20 – 65
Minimum session: 2
Minimum total students: 60
Length of sessions: 50 – 60 mins
Water in Aboriginal Culture incursion for Year 2 to Year 4 topics include:
- the connection of Aboriginal people to the land, sea, sky and waterways
- cultural relevance of water around Perth
- traditional, sustainable practices of Noongar people for locating, treating, transporting and conserving water
- Interconnection of plants, animals, people, the environment and water.
Number of students per session: 20 – 65
Minimum session: 2
Minimum total students: 60
Length of sessions: 50 – 60 mins
Our Water in Aboriginal Culture incursion for Year 5 to Year 6 topics include:
- cultural relevance of water around the Perth and Peel area
- traditional, sustainable practices of Noongar people for locating, treating, transporting and conserving water to current practices
- Noongar practices that enable survival in conditions of water scarcity.
Number of students per session: 30 – 90
Minimum total students: 60
Minimum session: 2
Length of sessions: 50 – 60 mins
Our Water in Aboriginal Culture incursion for Year 7 topics include:
- the connection of Aboriginal people to the land, sea, sky and waterways
- Noongar 6 seasons and how they are linked to plants, animals and water sources
- traditional, sustainable practices of Noongar people for locating, treating, transporting and conserving water to current practices.
Walk with the Waugal videos
Access a range of videos and corresponding lesson plans. Ready to be delivered through a range of platforms, students will be guided through an immersive journey by Noongar Elder Dr Noel Nannup to learn about the story of how the Waugal created our deep underground system and waterways. He will take your students to significant sites around Perth and explain their cultural importance to Aboriginal people and how they are sustainably managed today.
Length: Each video ranges from 1:50 mins - 6 mins
- The cultural significance of the 6 bodies of water surrounding Perth.
- Past and present cultural practices carried out at these locations.
- How these sites are used today and how we sustainably manage them for the future.