Indigenous artist Sebastian Moult helping improve learning outcomes for preschoolers

Nowra-based artist and proud Wiradjuri man Sebastian Moult is using art to help improve learning outcomes of local Aboriginal preschool students, delivering a project at Lyrebird Preschool alongside Aboriginal Elder and artist Loretta Parsley.

The project aimed at connecting students to their culture, with 30 per cent of children at the preschool being connected with First Nations. Thus far Mr Moult has helped students create their own coolamons – small, shallow dishes made from bark.

“They are an Indigenous tool, pretty much like a bowl, you can put berries or anything that fits in it to carry,” he told local news source South Coast Register. “The students were very engaged and put flowers and leaves in theirs.”

Passing on information through art is something he considers to be an honour, and something which has helped him to overcome his own challenges living as a young person on the autism spectrum. 

“I didn’t start speaking until I was in kindergarten,” he told the paper. “Autism has always been on my back growing up, but doing this has just really opened me up.”

Children have also explored making prints with their hands, and using different mediums and methods such as dot painting, carving and working with sand. 

To access the original coverage of this story please see here.