All courses | kids-academy

Indigenous Emotional Learning Programs for Primary Students

Building Emotional Strength through Aboriginal Perspectives

These Indigenous Emotional Learning Programs are developed by Donna Hensen – a Trauma-Informed Counsellor, Artist, and Guest Lecturer at the Gestalt Institute. Donna is a survivor of the Stolen Generations, bringing deep lived experience and cultural wisdom to support children’s emotional learning.

Each program:

Integrates Aboriginal stories and knowledge
Teaching emotional awareness, empathy, and resilience through storytelling, art, language, and cultural practices.
Aligns with the Australian Curriculum
Embedding First Nations perspectives across key learning areas while supporting social and emotional learning outcomes.
Fosters respectful cultural engagement
Helping students develop respect for Aboriginal cultures and peoples, alongside critical thinking and self-reflection skills.
Provides rich, scaffolded lessons
Each lesson includes multiple activities, discussion prompts, and educator support materials to guide effective teaching.

These programs are ideal for educators who want to:

Support student wellbeing with culturally grounded learning
Integrate emotional learning seamlessly into everyday teaching
Nurture empathy, respect, and emotional strength in their classrooms

At The Answer Is Yes, we are honoured to share programs created by Donna Hensen, whose lived experiences as a Stolen Generations survivor bring authenticity, compassion, and depth to every lesson.

Explore the Indigenous Emotional Learning Programs below and help your students grow strong in heart, mind, and spirit.

Indigenous Emotional Learning (Primary)

Aunty Donna's Morning Meditations

This course is a five-part wellbeing and emotional literacy program designed for early years and primary educators and their students. It combines guided, sensory-based meditation lessons for children with professional development for educators, allowing both teacher and student to experience the benefits of emotional regulation, grounding, and imaginative connection to nature and Country. Each themed lesson—featuring visualisation, reflection, creative expression, and affirmations—is supported by a corresponding professional learning piece that encourages educators to participate fully, deepen their cultural and emotional awareness, and model calm, presence, and respect. Together, the course creates a gentle, culturally respectful framework for building inner strength, classroom belonging, and connection to self, others, and the natural world.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Indigenous Emotional Learning (Primary)

Hearts on Country—Aboriginal Ways of Growing Emotionally Strong

Australia's Aboriginal Culture is the oldest and the longest-ongoing culture in the world. Yet, it seems that our society still struggles to embrace and understand it, especially in our school systems. We need to replace ignorance with understanding, which means normalising Aboriginal Culture and building personal connections to it for all students, their families, and all teachers. But it's not only about Aboriginal Culture. We also need to reconnect with nature, which has been neglected for far too long. This is why we created a primary school lesson plan that centres around the Rainbow Serpent, a significant figure in Aboriginal Culture and a symbol of the interconnectedness of all things.

(4 Educator Lessons, 5 Lesson plans with 4-5 lessons each)

Indigenous Emotional Learning (Primary)

The Emu’s Way—Aboriginal Lessons in Pride, Jealousy and Emotional Regulation

Understanding Jealousy, Pride, and Emotional Regulation

Whenever we talk about emotions, we tend to overlook two feelings that are often overlooked or even looked down upon: pride and jealousy. But in reality, these emotions are as normal as any other feeling we experience. While pride can be a motivator and a catalyst for self-improvement, it can also turn toxic if taken too far. Similarly, jealousy can lead to healthy competition, but if it becomes all-consuming, it can ruin our lives. Children should learn emotional literacy and how to handle pride and jealousy. In this course, we will explore the importance of understanding these two emotions and how to manage them in a healthy way.

(5 Educator Lessons, 6 Lesson Plans with 5-6 activities in each lesson)