Talking Up Our Strengths

Talking Up Our Strengths was published in partnership with the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC) and is designed to focus on how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people foster pride, identity and resilience in their communities.

These 22 evocative, photomontage cards have been designed to promote conversations that celebrate the strengths and values of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. The themes featured on the cards include our children, knowledge, Elders, land, music, health, connection, and our past, present and future.

The cards can be used as visual aids for sharing stories—stories that strengthen pride and help children to flourish and grow. They can be used in any community context to talk about community strengths, skills and resources.

Use these cards:

• As reminders of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, cultural richness and shared meanings.
• To focus on celebrations and activities within and between communities.
• As reminders about the importance of all Australians taking pride in, and respecting, the cultures that have cared for this land for so long.

Talking Up Our Strengths is a visual feast and catalyst for conversations and storytelling in schools, communities, groups, social work settings, board rooms, family gatherings and backyards.

• 22 full-colour cards (160mm x 140mm) in a sturdy folio box

BONUS: Free access to the Talking Up Our Strengths Digital Toolbox

• Digital version of the cards and a digital booklet full of ideas for using the cards
• Extra support resources including ideas bank, card hacks and blogs

To use the digital toolbox, simply create a customer account. All digital products follow our Digital Usage Policy – see Copyright and Digital Usage for details.

• Family and community: Choose a card that reminds you of your family? Do any cards remind you of someone special in your life? What strengths does your family talk about or celebrate? What are the most important strengths of your community?
• Personal responses: Which cards make you feel hopeful? If one card could be your guide and motto, which would it be? Is there a card that represents someone you admire? Why?
• For young people: Which cards represent your favourite family or community traditions? Who taught you to be proud of your culture? Which card represents that?
• For parents: Which cards do you think are most important for your children? What do you hope for them?

For more inspiration, explore our Ideas Bank.