Ngarrngga’s learning journey: From Foundation to Year 2 and beyond

To begin the 2026 school year, we have released a suite of new curriculum modules inclusive of our first modules for lower primary (Foundation to Year 2). These modules are carefully designed to connect with and build upon the content offered in our existing resources for Years 3 to 6. This interconnected approach ensures that students can develop a strong foundation in Indigenous Knowledges from an early age.

Each of our modules follows the Ngarrngga model and methodology for resource creation to provide educators with materials which are classroom-ready and easy to implement.

Within our new modules, educators can access a breadth of resources providing important contextual information, Teacher Support Material (TSM) building cultural responsiveness, as well as case studies and activities that showcase Indigenous Knowledges.

Our new lower primary modules include:

• What is Country (Foundation) invites students to explore how Country can be experienced as Land, Water, and Sky Country, and how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples maintain enduring relationships with these different aspects.

• Caring for Country (Year 1) invites students to develop their awareness of Country as living and relational, something to be spoken to, cared for, and, if mistreated, hurt.

• Exploring local Country: Places of importance (Year 2) invites students to explore places of importance that hold social, cultural, spiritual, and ecological significance. They learn how these places embody stories and relationships built over generations. These resources support students to deepen their respect for the Country they live, learn, and play on.

Introducing the Ngarrngga mascots

As part of our new lower primary modules, we’re excited to introduce our Ngarrngga mascots! These engaging characters act as guides for students through their learning journey. These mascots appear in the materials, helping to narrate the Indigenous Knowledge and engage and excite students.

When it came to determining the design of these mascots, we chose to work with First Nations illustrator Jade Goodwin. Jade’s beautiful and playful artwork, as well as her impressive portfolio of illustrations (including Ash Barty’s book series), showcases her ability to create memorable characters and complement existing work. She was the perfect fit to help bring our mascots to life!

With Jade, the Ngarrngga team developed the six mascots based on Australian native animals. Bunmarra, Marlu, ‍Naagun, Gaaku, Larila and Yawa are all named using Indigenous languages (with help from the 50 Words Project). Jade also created visual representations of Land, Sky and Water Country to help students understand the different types of Country and how they intersect.

“What really drew me to working with Ngarrngga was their purpose and leadership. As a nation-building initiative led by First Nations educators, Ngarrngga is doing meaningful, long-term work to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems into everyday classroom learning. That felt incredibly important to be part of.

I was especially interested in the challenge of creating illustrations for early primary students that are warm, engaging, and accessible, while also being culturally respectful and aligned with an established First Nations–led framework. The opportunity to visually represent Land, Sky, and Water Country in ways that help young children connect to Country was something I felt deeply motivated by.

The most challenging aspect of the project was illustrating Water Country. Water exists in so many forms, rivers, oceans, wetlands, etc, and finding a way to visually blend these while still clearly showing their differences took some time to wrap my head around. I needed the illustration to feel cohesive and readable for young learners.

My favourite part of the project was creating the animal mascots. Designing them as friendly, approachable guides was a joy, and it allowed me to lean into character, warmth, and storytelling. I loved thinking about how each mascot could help children feel welcomed into the learning, acting as a bridge between complex ideas and natural curiosity.” – Jade Goodwin.

“Art has a unique ability to make stories and knowledge tangible, and the Ngarrngga mascots are a beautiful example of that power in action. Each character offers a different doorway into culture, language and learning, helping children connect with ideas in a visual and emotionally engaging way.

In the classroom, the mascots will spark curiosity and conversation. They can be used for storytelling, role play, and cross-curricula activities that link literacy, history, and social learning. By seeing characters come to life, students are more likely to remember stories and develop empathy for the people and traditions those stories represent.

This project has been a wonderful exercise in collaboration and creativity. Working alongside Jade has been an absolute privilege – her insight and dedication have helped shape the mascots into meaningful teaching tools.

We’re excited to continue exploring how each Ngarrngga character can inspire lessons, fuel imagination and strengthen cultural understanding in our classrooms.” - Professor Melitta Hogarth.

Discover our new lower primary modules and the Ngarrngga mascots here.