Land-Based Learning: Benefits for Indigenous Students

For Indigenous Australians, land is not just geography—it is identity, culture, history,
spirituality, and future. It’s the foundation of law, language, family, and knowledge. That’s
why land-based education is not just a teaching method for Indigenous students in
Australia—it’s a form of healing, empowerment, and cultural restoration.

Across Australia, Learning on Country programs and other land-based learning initiatives
are reshaping how Indigenous students engage with education. By reconnecting youth to
Country, culture, and community through experiential learning, these programs are showing
powerful outcomes in student engagement, self-esteem, academic performance, and cultural
pride.

This article explores the concept of land-based education, its benefits for Indigenous students,
and how it can reshape the Australian education system to be more inclusive, relevant, and
effective.

What is Land-Based Learning?

Land-based learning, sometimes referred to as “learning on Country,” is an Indigenous
pedagogical approach that places the land at the centre of the learning experience. It involves
hands-on education delivered in natural environments, often led by Elders, Traditional
Owners, and Indigenous educators.

Unlike classroom-based models, land-based education:

• Prioritises cultural knowledge systems
• Embeds language, storytelling, and traditional practices
• Involves real-world learning experiences like bush medicine, traditional fire
  management, or fishing
• Reinforces the relationship between people, community, and Country

It’s an approach that fosters holistic learning—where intellect, emotion, identity, and
environment are interconnected.

Why Land-Based Education Matters for Indigenous Students

Traditional Western education systems have long excluded, overlooked, or devalued
Indigenous knowledge systems. This has contributed to:

• High disengagement rates among Indigenous students
• Cultural disconnection and identity struggles
• Mistrust of mainstream institutions

Land-based learning counters this by placing Indigenous worldviews at the centre of the
educational experience.

Key Benefits of Land-Based Learning for Indigenous Youth

1. Stronger Cultural Identity and Pride

Land-based programs reinforce traditional knowledge, language, and lore passed down from
Elders. By learning on their ancestral lands, students gain a deeper understanding of who they
are and where they come from.

This cultural grounding builds pride, confidence, and a sense of responsibility to
community—key ingredients for lifelong wellbeing and success.

2. Increased School Engagement

Many Indigenous students feel disconnected in classroom settings that lack cultural
relevance. Land-based learning offers:

• Active, practical lessons
• Cultural validation
• Flexible teaching styles that suit visual and experiential learners

As a result, attendance rates and participation improve dramatically in schools that integrate
land-based learning into their curriculum.

3. Improved Mental and Emotional Well-being

Connection to Country has proven mental health benefits. Being outdoors, engaging in
traditional practices, and spending time with Elders helps reduce anxiety, stress, and shame. It
replaces feelings of marginalisation with empowerment and healing.

For many students, land-based education becomes a form of cultural therapy—reconnecting
them to stories, ancestors, and belonging.

4. Stronger Community Connections

Learning on Country isn't done in isolation. It often involves families, Elders, rangers,
cultural educators, and community organisations. This collaborative model:

• Builds intergenerational trust
• Encourages youth to see themselves as future custodians
• Creates bonds of respect between school systems and community leadership

When education becomes a community responsibility, students thrive.

5. Employment and Skills Pathways

Land-based education is not only about cultural preservation—it can lead to real jobs.
Programs often include:

• Ranger training
• Environmental science and conservation
• Tourism and cultural heritage management
• Language teaching and interpreting

Students learn how their cultural knowledge has value in the workforce—especially in land
and sea management careers.

What Are “Learning on Country” Programs?

“Learning on Country” is a national initiative developed in partnership with Indigenous
communities, schools, and ranger groups. It offers structured cultural education aligned with
the Australian curriculum but delivered through on-Country experiences.

These programs are currently active in areas like Arnhem Land, East Kimberley, and Cape
York, and often include:

• Weekly or monthly Country visits
• Language revitalisation projects
• Integration with school subjects like science, geography, and history
• Career development and vocational education

Students work directly with Aboriginal rangers and Elders to gain both cultural and academic
knowledge.

Examples of Successful Land-Based Education Programs

1. Yirrkala School (NT)

This remote school integrates Yolŋu Matha language, bush knowledge, and cultural practices
into the curriculum. Students work alongside Yolŋu rangers to track turtles, collect bush
foods, and map sacred sites.

2. Warruwi School (Goulburn Islands)

Combines western education with a strong emphasis on language, songlines, and land-based
projects. Community members teach weaving, hunting, and seasonal bush skills.

3. Learning on Country Program – East Arnhem Land

This initiative partners schools with Indigenous ranger groups. It’s helped significantly
reduce student drop-out rates and has created real career pathways for Indigenous youth.

Challenges to Implementing Land-Based Education

Despite its proven success, land-based learning programs face several barriers:

These programs are currently active in areas like Arnhem Land, East Kimberley, and Cape
York, and often include:

• Funding instability: Many programs rely on short-term grants and pilot funding
• Lack of cultural training for teachers: Non-Indigenous educators often need support to facilitate or understand land-based models
• Curriculum alignment: Schools may struggle to integrate traditional knowledge into rigid national standards
• Limited access in urban areas: While land-based education is strong in remote regions, it’s underrepresented in cities

Overcoming these barriers requires systemic change, policy support, and strong partnerships
between education departments and Indigenous communities.

Strategies for Expanding Land-Based Learning

• Embed Cultural Knowledge in the Curriculum
  Integrate Indigenous knowledge across all subjects—not just history or social studies.
  Science, art, geography, and English all offer space for Country-based content.
• Support Community-Led Education Models
  Fund and empower Indigenous-run schools and education centres that deliver learning
  on Country on their own terms.
• Train and Employ Indigenous Educators
  Increase recruitment and support for Indigenous teachers, mentors, and rangers to lead
  learning on Country initiatives.
• Use Technology to Bridge Urban Access
  Virtual Country experiences, video storytelling, and online Elders’ teachings can
  bring elements of land-based learning to urban Indigenous students.
• Formalise Credit Recognition
  Ensure that land-based learning counts toward school assessments, vocational
  training, and university admissions.

Land-Based Learning for All Australians

While land-based education is particularly powerful for Indigenous students, it holds lessons
for all Australians. Connecting to the land fosters environmental stewardship, cultural
understanding, and respect for Indigenous perspectives.

By making land-based learning part of the national education fabric, we create a generation
that is more:

• Connected to Country
• Aware of Australia’s Indigenous heritage
• Grounded in sustainability and respect

This approach has the power to create unity through shared experience on the land we all call
home.

Back to Country, Forward to the Future

For Indigenous students in Australia, land-based education is not an alternative—it is
essential. It affirms identity, revitalises language and culture, promotes well-being, and builds
futures rooted in both tradition and innovation.

Learning on Country is more than an educational model. It’s a cultural revival. A healing
practice. A community strategy. A future pathway.

As more schools, governments, and communities recognise its value, the vision becomes
clear: when Indigenous students are given the chance to learn through their land, they
don’t just grow—they thrive.