Design and Technologies: Explore the use of familiar designed solutions to meet their needs (VCDSTS004). Explore the characteristics and properties of familiar designed solutions in at least one technologies context (VCDSTC005). Experience and explore how designed solutions are created and produced safely to meet personal needs (VCDSCD006).
Aboriginal Cultural Standards Framework (DETWA): Cultural Responsiveness Standard - Staff embed Aboriginal cultural knowledge, such as sustainable timber use for tools like woomeras, to demonstrate respect for community values and environmental stewardship.
Cross-Curriculum Priority: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures - Students explore traditional sustainable timber applications to understand cultural and environmental design principles.
Timber is a versatile material used in design and construction to create sustainable solutions. Sustainable timber refers to wood sourced from forests managed responsibly to ensure regeneration and minimal ecological impact. Aboriginal peoples in Western Australia have long used local timber like jarrah to craft durable tools such as woomeras and shields. A woomera is a traditional tool used to launch spears with greater force and accuracy. These practices demonstrate respect for the land by using resources sparingly to preserve biodiversity. Such methods align with modern sustainability goals that prioritise community well-being and environmental care.
In construction, sustainable timber like pine is valued for its strength in building frames and structural supports. Pine is a softwood that grows quickly, making it a renewable resource when harvested responsibly. Aboriginal communities historically used local timber to construct shelters with cultural significance, ensuring harmony with the environment. Today, certified timber, such as that approved by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), guarantees ethical sourcing by verifying sustainable forestry practices. This reduces carbon footprints, the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an activity or product. These practices echo Indigenous values of environmental stewardship.
Furniture crafted from sustainable timber combines functionality with aesthetic appeal. Aesthetic appeal refers to the visual or sensory attractiveness of a design. Aboriginal craftsmanship, such as in carving woomeras, inspires modern eco-designs that value natural beauty and durability. Certified timber promotes forest regeneration, the process of replanting and restoring forests to maintain ecosystems. This protects biodiversity, the variety of life in an ecosystem, ensuring healthy environments for future generations. By balancing these factors, sustainable timber meets society’s needs while respecting cultural and environmental values.
Here are 20 words from the reading for spelling practice: