Mount St Benedict College acknowledges and pays respect to the past and present traditional custodians and elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Ancestors have walked this Country and we acknowledge their special and unique place in our nation’s historical, cultural and linguistic identity.
Visitors should be aware that this Research Guide may contain images or documentation relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are deceased.
Here are some resources that you may find useful during your studies. Search the Bennies catalogue Accessit for more, or browse the Non-fiction collection NFS.
Growing up Aboriginal in Australia by 
Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by 
The anthology includes 52 essays from First Nations writers spanning the breadth of society, from rural to urban, young to old, coastal regions to the country’s interior, well known authors to emerging writers
In Anita Heiss' latest, likeable and breezy novel, five women, best friends (Tiddas means friend in northern Koori) for decades, meet to talk about each other's lives at their book group. Romance and career dilemmas, baby yearnings, all get aired and shared with laughter and tears over chai lattes and in between sessions of retail therapy and Bikram yoga. The lifestyle is upwardly mobile, the setting is urban Brisbane and the woman are justifiably proud of their status, earning power and confidence while never forgetting that their bonds of sisterhood have been passed down through a culture of strong women.
A landmark anthology of Australian literary writing across all genres from over two centuries, this is an authoritative collection more than six years in the making, providing a window onto Australian culture. An essential addition to every Australian's library.
Growing up in Australia isn't always easy. Over the past year, a range of books have come out exploring what it's like to be a citizen of a country, but to feel different. Natalie Cromb is one of four writers who shared their experiences with The Drum. On the surface, their upbringings appear to be very different, but there are shared themes of otherness, isolation and struggling with identity through experiences of racism or prejudice. Natalie is a contributor to the book ‘Growing up Aboriginal in Australia’, she says because of the national narrative of what it means to be Aboriginal, she found herself having to defend her identity. Natalie’s advice to young people growing up Aboriginal in Australia, is to never allow someone else’s opinion of you define who you are.
Dr Anita Heiss AM. DLitt. is a proud member of the Wiradyuri nation of central New South Wales and one of Australia’s most prolific and well-known authors publishing across genres including non-fiction, historical fiction, commercial fiction and children’s fiction.
