New foot health book launches into SA primary school curriculum

SAHMRI’s Walk Strong, Walk Tall program has launched three new digital curriculum resources designed to facilitate the integration of the My Feet children’s education book into primary school classrooms from Foundation to Year 4.

Copies of My Feet have recently been posted out to every primary school in South Australia.

The book and it’s supporting content are also now available digitally, forming the basis of the new classroom learning materials.

Community Engagement and Education Officer, Courtney Hammond, says the resources were created to be flexible and easy for teachers to use, introducing young learners to Aboriginal perspectives while focusing on foot health and overall wellbeing.

“Each resource includes between 12 and 14 lessons that can be taught independently or delivered sequentially as a unit over two to three weeks,” Ms Hammond said.

“In this unit, students explore key themes including caring for their feet, the relationships that are important to them, First Nations cultural connections, managing disappointment and expressing emotions.”

“All resources are aligned with the Australian Curriculum, with a focus on Health and Physical Education, and include detailed curriculum links to support teachers.”

The curriculum resources were developed through collaboration between Walk Strong, Walk Tall and Ngarrpadlarna Mila, a Kaurna term meaning, The Five Aunties.

The Five Aunties is a group of Aboriginal teachers and leaders with a lifetime of experience working in education in South Australia, particularly in Indigenous education.

Ms Hammond says the collaboration was central to ensuring the resources were culturally appropriate and meaningful for students and teachers.

“These resources were co-developed with Aboriginal Elders and educators, acknowledging and respecting their cultural authority and expertise,” Ms Hammond said.

“We’re sincerely grateful for their expertise and guidance throughout this process, which has helped ensure the content reflects Aboriginal perspectives in a respectful, engaging and educational way.”

All three resources are free to access and share with colleagues and are available on the SAHMRI website, Walk Strong, Walk Tall page.

My Feet is written by Aimee Chan and illustrated by Leilamarie Stuart-Likouresis.