AustLit

'This article contains information on deaths in custody and the violence experienced by First Nations people in our encounters with the Australian carceral system. It also contains references to and the names of people who are now deceased.

“They killed him.” 

David Dungay Jr died in Sydney’s Long Bay prison in 2015. In the opening scene of the documentary Incarceration Nation, Dunghutti woman Aunty Leetona Dungay, David’s mother, sets the scene for what viewers are about to witness. 

While David Dungay’s family’s campaign was not discussed in depth in the documentary, there’s no question why they have lodged a complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Committee to seek accountability for the guards involved in his death. 

David Dungay’s death is one of about 500 Aboriginal deaths in custody since the Royal Commission report was released in 1991. No one has ever been held accountable for these deaths. 

Directed by Guugu Yimithirr man Dean Gibson, Incarceration Nation is relentless and emotionally demanding of its audience. This is due to scenes of explicit violence perpetrated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - especially children - by those in authority. It might be one of the most disturbing things you ever watch. 

For non-First Nations people, Incarceration Nation has the potential to shake the very core of your understanding of what it means to be Blak on this continent.'

'Furry and flying, wild and domestic, underground and undersea – discover the wondrous ways of the animal world in this intricately illustrated book of facts and explanations.

'‘A beautifully illustrated resource for parents and children alike, bringing the wonder of science to kids. It’s not the answer that gets you the Nobel Prize, it’s the question!’ – Dr Karl Kruszelnicki

'Do sharks sneeze? Do butterflies remember being caterpillars? Why don’t cats wear shoes?

'Children have an insatiable curiosity for the world around them, and life can be an endless source of fascination for young minds. But do you have all the answers? And are they actually correct? Maybe you need to ask an expert …

'Adapted from The Conversation’s highly successful Curious Kids online column, Why Do Tigers Have Whiskers? is the first book in a series exploring some of life’s most pressing questions, submitted by children and answered by leading experts in each field.

'‘After editing Curious Kids for The Conversation for so many years, I’ve developed a deep respect for how children see the world in ways adults cannot,’ says series editor Sunanda Creagh. ‘I love their unalloyed awe at the world and brilliant inability to worry about looking silly by asking questions that range from the blindingly simple to the deeply weird. And in every answer we publish on The Conversation – each penned by an academic expert in their field – there is always something for adults to learn, too.’'

In this first book on animals, venture into the jungle to discover why tigers need whiskers, dig deep with echidnas to find out how they breathe underground, and shimmy up a tree with your pet cat to learn how it uses its claws. Future books will cover such topics as the ocean, outer space, the human body and language.

Aimed at kids aged 4-7, the series asks the big questions about the world as only a child could, with factual explanations that break down the fundamentals and check our assumptions. A glossary helps young readers learn more complex terms, and immersive collages illustrate each answer, with layers of stuff to marvel at and identify.

Learn the why, the how and the wow! as you explore your world through the eyes of a curious kid.' (Publication summary)

This series looks at under-acknowledged women through the ages.