Important information
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About
The Indigenous Research Methodology (IRM) is a collaboratively developed approach to scientific research that reflects the deep, place-based knowledge systems of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Applied on Country and adapted for educational settings, the IRM forms a framework for exploring and applying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ longstanding scientific knowledge traditions and can be implemented to contextualise scientific inquiry in the classroom.
The IRM resource collection includes an introductory video and accompanying information sheet, as well as five CREST inquiries, at Introductory and Intermediate levels and are aimed at students in Years 6 – 11. In completing an inquiry, students can demonstrate their understandings across both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures Cross Curriculum priority, and the Achievement Standards for Science.
The Indigenous Research Methodology resource collection was funded by and created in collaboration with the Drought Resilience Research team, Professor Bradley Moggridge from the University of Technology Sydney and the Narran Lakes Aboriginal Joint Management Committee.
The student worksheets have been designed for printing; therefore, only an accessible PDF version has been supplied.
Available resources
Australian Curriculum links
View how these resources can be linked to certain learning areas within the Australian curriculum.
Download Australian Curriculum links PDF (784 KB)
Download Australian Curriculum links - text version TXT (16 KB)
Teacher guide
Use this teacher guide to effectively incorporate the Indigenous Research Methodology (IRM) into your science classrooms.
Teacher and student resources
The following IRM resources were developed through CREST, CSIRO’s national awards program, which offers competency-based STEM inquiry activities across six levels—Green to Gold—ranging from structured tasks to advanced, self-guided projects. Learn more about CREST on our website.
Water in our Environment – Green CREST Award
The way water moves across the Earth shapes our environment and influences the lives of the plants and animals that live there. This Green CREST Award applies the Indigenous Research Methodology to explore how water moves on-Country and is contextualised with the Dharriwaa (Narran Lakes) case study.
It includes a teacher and a student resource for Science teachers with students in Years 6 and 7. It covers earth and space science, biological sciences, science as a human endeavour, science inquiry skills and Cross Curriculum Priority (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures).
- Download the teacher guide PDF (1 MB)
- Download the teacher guide - text version TXT (16 KB)
- Download the student worksheet PDF (316 KB)
Biodiversity – Green CREST Award
The biodiversity of an ecosystem often reflects its health and resilience to environmental change. The Narran Lakes system is known as a boom and bust system – when the lakes flood, the biodiversity booms and when it dries, the life in the area declines, or busts. In this Green CREST Award, students will apply the Indigenous Research Methodology to investigate the biodiversity in their school.
It includes a teacher and a student resource for Science teachers with students in Years 7 and 9. It can be applied in Years 3 and 4 with adaptation. This resource covers biological sciences, science as a human endeavour, science inquiry skills and Cross Curriculum Priority (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures).
- Download the teacher guide PDF (931 KB)
- Download the teacher guide - text version TXT (13 KB)
- Download the student worksheet PDF (322 KB)
Groundwater – Green or Orange CREST Award
The stories of groundwater at Dharriwaa (Narran Lakes) tell us that the Uallaroy people knew not only where to find permanent water sources, but also that there was a massive interlinked underground source of water (that we now call the Great Artesian Basin). But how does the water get there? In this CREST Award – available at Green and Orange levels – students will investigate one form of recharging ground water supplies. They will apply the Indigenous Research Methodology to explore how ground cover affects how much rain water can seep into underground stores.
There are teacher and student resources at Green and Orange levels, for Science teachers with students in Years 6, 7 and 9 and can also be applied in Year 4 with adaptation. The resources cover earth and space sciences, biological sciences, science as a human endeavour, science inquiry skills and Cross Curriculum Priority (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures).
- Download the 'Green' teacher guide PDF (1 MB)
- Download the 'Green' teacher guide - text version TXT (20 KB)
- Download the 'Green' student worksheet PDF (334 KB)
- Download the 'Orange' teacher guide PDF (1 MB)
- Download the 'Orange' teacher guide - text version TXT (15 KB)
- Download the 'Orange' student worksheet PDF (267 KB)
Cultural Indicators – Blue CREST Award
Indigenous knowledge systems offer unique understandings of Country. Indigenous peoples have developed holistic sets of cultural indicators to understand, care for and manage the diverse Country of the Australian continent. In this activity, students will independently apply the Indigenous Research methodology to explore Cultural Indicators on Country.
There are teacher and student resources for Science teachers with students in Year 9 and Biological Sciences Unit 1. The resources cover biological sciences, science as a human endeavour, science inquiry skills and Cross Curriculum Priority (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures).
- Download the teacher guide PDF (625 KB)
- Download the teacher guide - text version TXT (8 KB)
- Download the student worksheet PDF (288 KB)