Aboriginal artwork symbolises professional development journey

A new painting by Aboriginal visual artist Emma Bamblett spectacularly captures the professional learning journey of Victorian learning specialists.

Learning specialists are highly skilled teachers who want to stay in the classroom and work with other teachers to improve their practice.

In the department-commissioned painting titled Learning Journey, Emma uses orange kangaroo tracks to symbolise the journey of learning specialists through the six capability areas that learning specialists need to best perform their role:

• leading from the middle (orange area, bottom right)
• professional observations for professional learning (orange area, top)
• professional conversations (purple area, right)
• enriching data and evidence practices (blue area, bottom)
• modelling exemplary teaching practice and professional learning (purple area, right side)
• mentoring and coaching (purple area, left side).

The artwork highlights what inclusive professional learning practices look like through imagery. It aims to strengthen the professional identity of learning specialists, and the understanding that professional learning is not a linear journey.

Emma has previously created several pieces of art for us, including the Acknowledgement of Country plaques around the Treasury precinct, and so was tasked with creating Learning Journey.

Sharing the Learning Journey

Learning specialists are encouraged to use and share the artwork and its meaning with colleagues and peers where appropriate. This may include:

• a PowerPoint slide when sharing an Acknowledgement of Country, along with a story about the artwork's meaning
• in meetings or gatherings where other learning specialists are present
• professional learning with colleagues
• in professional conversations with and about learning specialists.

Emma, who has connections with the Wemba Wemba, Gunditjmara, Ngadjonji and Taungurung mobs, said, `I hope the artwork reflects the journeys of viewers and they can see themselves within the painting, learning and building knowledge of Aboriginal culture.'

Find out more

To share your reflections on the artwork, contact the Design and Implementation Unit via email: professional.practice@education.vic.gov.au