Blue Water Empire - Episode 2

Australian Curriculum (v8.4) content descriptions:

Year 8 Economics and Business

• The traditional markets of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and their participation in contemporary markets (ACHEK028)

Year 9 History

• The extension of settlement, including the effects of contact (intended and unintended) between European settlers in Australia and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples (ACDSEH020)

Year 10 History

• The impact of World War II, with a particular emphasis on the Australian home front, including the changing roles of women and use of wartime government controls (conscription, manpower controls, rationing and censorship) (ACDSEH109)
• Background to the struggle of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples for rights and freedoms before 1965, including the 1938 Day of Mourning and the Stolen Generations (ACDSEH104)

NSW Syllabus outcomes: HT5-2, HT5-3, COM4-2, COM4-3

General capabilities: Intercultural Understanding, Ethical Understanding, Critical and Creative Thinking

Cross-curriculum Priorities:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures: OI.1, OI.2, OI.3, OI.4, OI.5, OI.6, OI.7, OI.8, OI.9
• Sustainability: OI.2, OI.7, OI.8, OI.9

Level of teacher scaffolding: Moderate - The information presented can help support you in facilitating classroom discussions.

• Device capable of presenting a website to the class

Blue Water Empire is a 3-part dramatised documentary series that gives a unique insight into the history of the Torres Strait Islands. Cool.org and Bunya Productions would like to acknowledge the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Screen Queensland and The Indigenous Department of Screen Australia for their support in developing these teaching resources. 

If your school has access to ClickView, you can access the Blue Water Empire series here. You can also purchase the first episode of Blue Water Empire here. 

NOTE: This series has been given an M rating. You will need to follow your school protocols for screening an M film when viewing this series. This episode contains some brief scenes of violence that may upset some younger viewers; consider briefing students about the inclusion and content of these scenes before viewing them with the class.