Talking about Uranium

Talking about Uranium is an educational resource package designed for use in Central Australian communities and schools to explore the health, environmental, cultural and social impacts of uranium mining and nuclear projects.

In recent years applications for uranium exploration and mining approvals have sharply increased across Central Australia and the Northern Territory. The uranium mining industry, with an abundance of resources, is actively promoting the benefits of its activities to both Indigenous and non-indigenous residents. This resource was compiled in recognition of the increasing pressures on local communities to grant approval for high impact nuclear and uranium mining projects on traditional lands.

The resource package was developed with the assistance of local health and environment organisations and Traditional Owners whose homelands have been impacted by uranium exploration and mining. The story and resources are available in both Arrernte and English in recognition of the limited amount of information about the impacts of the nuclear industry  accessible to Aboriginal people whom continue to be disproportionately targeted by this industry, and for whom English is often a second, third or fourth language.

The uranium education resource package ‘Talking about Uranium’  is now available in Arrernte and English and consists of a range of resources.

• A bilingual video Talking about Uranium featuring the story of a Central Australian Aboriginal community struggling to make a decision about whether to allow uranium exploration and mining on country. 
• An accompanying illustrated booklet allows younger people to engage with the stories in a classroom or community context
• A Talking about Uranium: teacher’s notes provides a series of suggested classroom activities to enable students of varied literacy levels and ages to use the booklet to explore wider issues around the Australian and global nuclear industry and the nuclear chain.
• An interactive online story available in public libraries as part of the i-talk story database that allows users to click through the Talking about Uranium story at their own pace listening to the narrative in either Arrernte or English.
• Colour posters for use in classrooms, public spaces and homes illustrating how the nuclear chain works and its impacts on health and environment.

Talking about Uranium was developed by a steering committee comprising Arrernte Traditional Owners from communities affected by uranium projects, the Arid Lands Environment Centre, Beyond Nuclear Initiative, Medical Association for the Prevention of War, the Public Health Association of the NT and other interested stakeholders. Financial support was provided by the Fouress Foundation and Families for a Nuclear Free Future.

For more information or to order a copy of the resource package please contact Lauren Mellor at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 8952 2011.