Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance

The theme for ATSIMA Conference 2018 was'Starting the Revolution'.

The ATSIMA Conference in 2016 identified the urgent need to develop an Indigenous mathematics curriculum as a step towards supporting Indigenous students’ identity in the teaching and learning of mathematics. This call recognised that education and the curriculum is culturally laden, and that it explicitly and implicitly teaches the values and norms of the Western culture.

The 2018 ATSIMA Conference facilitated this discussion bringing together Indigenous people to discuss Indigenous knowledges and connections with mathematics. The conference delegates worked through ideas for the development of an Indigenous mathematics curriculum.   

Please see an outline of the emerging themes that will form a basis for a Indigenous Curriculum/Pedagogy.

ATSIMA Conference Resources

The workshop presentation and videos from 2018 will be available here soon. 

The main focus for ATSIMA 2016 was Quality Learning and Teaching in mathematics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners: one of the main outcomes from ATSIMA 2014 conference. The by-line Value us Value our education Value our future encapsulates the core principles behind quality learning and teaching. At the heart of these principles is the notion of meaningful relationships.

ATSIMA is committed to facilitate the development of relationships between Community, Education and Business sectors. As highlighted in ATSIMA 2014, we need to move beyond the pipeline mentality of separate sectors waiting for the next cohort to a new paradigm of meaningful relationships between all sectors: an ecosystem of relationships. ATSIMA 2016 explored what quality teaching and learning means under this new paradigm.

Conference themes

The conference had three main parts with each part being themed by Value us, Value our education and Value our future.  

Value us privileged the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from across Australia especially the Dharawal and Yuin peoples of the Illawarra and South East Coast: the land the conference was held on. We heard about education from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective and their relationship with the education system.

Value our education we had two types of presentations: 1) a showcase of practices and 2) research presentations. The showcase of practice was specifically geared towards teachers demonstrating pedagogy in mathematics that had a significant impact on learning outcomes in mathematics. The research presentations focussed on the research projects and major projects that aim to improve educational outcomes from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners in mathematics. 

Value our future: For this part of the conference, we encouraged business to present on their employment programs and how they are connecting with Communities and the education sector to create employment pathways. We encouraged Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities to present their vision for the future and explored how this fits with current employment pathways and education. 

Please see workshops links here from ATSIMA 2016.

The inaugural ATSIMA Conference 2014 Creating Connections and Growing Understanding was held from 10-11 November at the Lakes Resort, West Lakes in Adelaide. The Conference included a showcase of classroom practice; forums for discussions about teaching and learning, initiatives and projects that are making a difference; a national agenda for change and for research; keynote addresses from leaders in maths education for Indigenous learners and from Indigenous employment.

The conference was built on the success of the AAMT Special Interest Conference Numeracy, mathematics and Indigenous learners held in late 2012. The conference included over 100 representatives from school and higher education, communities, and business and industry.

As a result of the 2012 conference, a  blueprint outlining a 'call for change' was generated and a series of symposiums was held around the country.

• Form the National Network for Mathematics Learning of Indigenous Young People that establishes and drives state and regional networks.
  
  
• Investigate how national initiatives can adopt a focus on mathematics education for Indigenous students.
  
  
• Support the development of responsive pedagogy in mathematics.
  
  
• Review the extent to which teacher education programs support graduates to develop knowledge and skills in teaching mathematics to Indigenous students.
  
  
• Develop leaders who work at the intersection of Indigenous education and mathematics education. This includes creating leadership positions for school based Indigenous educators.
  
  
• Review and develop improved policy and approaches to cultural competency and mathematics.

In October 2012, the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers Inc held the national Special Interest Conference Numeracy, mathematics and Indigenous learners that showcased outstanding educators.