Daring Greatly Striving Valiantly

Shelley Ware, is an Aboriginal teacher of 25 years, who spent 3 years in the library of Kew Primary where she taught for 18 years, she understands the value librarians bring to a school and the wider community. She is honored to share her first hand experiences and knowledge, she has gained over the years in the classroom and from her community at the Australian Library and Information Association conference. Shelley will share the importance of sharing First Nation stories and history within your library and the role librarians play in reconciliation. As an ILF ambassador and an author of the picture story book ‘We are Matilda’ she understands celebrating the importance of connection and inclusion. She looks forward to sharing what she has learnt along the way and hopes it makes a difference in your libraries moving forward. 

Author Bio

Shelley Ware is a proud Yankunytjatjara and Wirangu woman from Adelaide, South Australia, who resides in Melbourne. Shelley is an accomplished and well sought-after MC and keynote presenter to corporations and events, espousing her personal journey, perspective on females in sport, racism, Aboriginal issues, and also childhood education. Shelley is an experienced teacher who is passionate about embedding Aboriginal history and culture into classrooms around Australia.

Shelley is a regular corporate speaker to large and small groups. Speaking about the impacts of racism, AFL, diversity in the workplace, females in sport, embedding Aboriginal History and Culture into classrooms and reconciliation, she is a dynamic and powerful presenter.

Since 2012, Shelley has worked in the media as a radio and television presenter on both local and national AFLM and AFLW live football news shows. She is a member of the Outersanctum Podcast Show and Broad Radio and writes an AFL column fortnightly for the Koori Mail.

Shelley is a member of the Carlton FC and her local Council RAP committee and a VIS board member. Shelley has become one of the most respected and recognised female presenters of AFLM and AFLW football in the country. She was announced the 2019 Essendon Women’s Network ‘Football Woman of the Year.’

Shelley has co-written the national curriculum through Culture is Life for teachers and ABC Education for The Australian Wars, The Australian Dream and Archie Roach – Stolen Generation. For the fourth year in a row, she has written the national primary curriculum for NAIDOC week with SBS Learn and in 2022 is writing for both primary and secondary years.

Also an experienced teacher, Shelley is passionate about embedding Aboriginal history and culture into classrooms around Australia. Shelley writes curriculum on the national level and she consults closely with staff and leadership at a school level through professional development days and staff meetings. She also visits schools, running workshops and lessons in Aboriginal art, history and culture in classrooms around Australia. Shelley specialises in literacy programs for primary school children, both publicly and privately.