Learning traditional Indigenous games

To celebrate National Reconciliation Week, 15 staff from Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s Education team participated in Traditional Indigenous Games training through a program called ‘Yulunga’ run by the Australian Sports Commission. Across the day the group learnt about the background and history of the ‘Yulunga’ program and how indigenous people used traditional games to pass on information and knowledge, hone their skills, and just have fun. The staff participated in a number of traditional games, including throwing soft squishy spears at a ball symbolising a kangaroo to practice throwing accuracy, whilst other games encouraged team work.The staff all gained a great deal of knowledge from the workshop and are now looking at ways to incorporate cultural activities and their newly learned skills into the Zoo’s education programs.