MLA Educational Series
Explore in this course on Ecology and native plants, animals of Australia and connection to Indigenous knowledge systems. Discover bush foods, ecology, medicine and the relationships between species, land and people across Victoria and Australia.
Written, Collaborated and delivered by
James Vegter and Uncle Reg Abrahams
Native Animals in Victoria and Australia
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Ecology
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Ecology in Victoria and Australia: Land Management, Biodiversity and Environmental Change (Copy)
Explore the ecology of Victoria and Australia through both Indigenous knowledge and modern science. From cultural burning and aquaculture to colonisation and ecosystem decline, this article reveals how Traditional Owners shaped landscapes for thousands of years and how restoration efforts are now working to heal Country.
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Bark Use (Copy)
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Botany in Australia: Native Plants, Food, Medicine and Knowledge (Copy)
Explore Indigenous botany in Australia, where native plants are used for food, medicine, and cultural lore. From yam daisy and eucalyptus to grasslands and waterways, this article reveals how Australian Indigenous knowledge systems managed ecosystems sustainably for thousands of years.
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Native Vegetation of Victoria (Copy)
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Zoology in Australia: Animals, Ecology and Cultural Law of Country (Copy)
Explore Indigenous zoology in Australia, where animals are understood as kin, totems, and part of cultural law. From eels and kangaroos to birds and marine life, this article reveals how Aboriginal knowledge systems managed wildlife, ecosystems, and biodiversity across Country for thousands of years.
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Aquaculture and Biodiversity in Victoria: Indigenous Eel Systems and Sustainable Land Management (Copy)
Explore Indigenous aquaculture and biodiversity in Victoria and Australia, where eel systems, wetlands, and seasonal knowledge created some of the world’s oldest sustainable food systems. From Budj Bim to Lake Connewarre, this article reveals how Traditional Owners managed ecosystems through engineering, law, and deep ecological knowledge.
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Indigenous Conservation in Australia: Ecology, Cultural Knowledge and the Future of Country (Copy)
Explore conservation biology in Australia through both science and Indigenous knowledge systems. From cultural burning and aquaculture to modern biodiversity protection, this article reveals how Traditional Owners have sustained ecosystems for thousands of years and how these practices are shaping the future of Country.
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Ancient Animals of Victoria: Megafauna, Indigenous Knowledge and Deep Time Ecology (Copy)
Explore conservation biology in Australia through both science and Indigenous knowledge systems. From cultural burning and aquaculture to modern biodiversity protection, this article reveals how Traditional Owners have sustained ecosystems for thousands of years and how these practices are shaping the future of Country.
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Fungi in Victoria: Indigenous Knowledge, Ecology, and Environmental Change (Copy)
Explore fungi in Victoria and Australia through Indigenous knowledge and ecological science. From bush medicine and fire-carrying fungi to mycorrhizal networks and ecosystem health, this article reveals how fungi sustain life, connect Country, and play a vital role in environmental change and restoration.
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Amphibians in Victoria: Indigenous Knowledge, Frogs, Ecology and Wetland Systems (Copy)
Explore amphibians in Victoria through Indigenous knowledge and ecological science. From ancient frog species and Gondwana origins to wetland ecosystems and cultural stories, this article reveals how frogs act as environmental indicators and powerful symbols of water, renewal, and balance on Country.
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Crustaceans in Victoria: Indigenous Knowledge, Water Systems and Aquatic Ecology (Copy)
Explore crustaceans in Victoria through Indigenous knowledge and ecological science. From yabbies and freshwater crayfish to crabs and marine systems, this article reveals how these ancient species shape waterways, sustain biodiversity, and act as vital indicators of ecosystem health and environmental change.
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Native Fish in Victoria (Copy)
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Native Animals of Country (Copy)
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Native Sea Creatures of Victoria (Copy)
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Native Breads (Copy)
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Native Berries (Copy)
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Native Insects of Victoria (Copy)
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Native Parrots and Birds (Copy)
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Native Animals History and Science
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Bunjil-Wedged-Tailed Eagle (Copy)
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Waa the Crow (Copy)
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Platypus History (Copy)
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Tasmanian Tiger (Copy)
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Black and White Cockatoos (Copy)
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Wombat History (Copy)
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Eels (Copy)
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Echidna's History (Copy)
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Koala (Copy)
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Emu History (Copy)
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Dingo History (Copy)
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Kangaroo History in Victoria (Copy)
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Wallabies of Victoria (Copy)
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Rock Wallabies (Copy)
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Bettongs History (Copy)
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Possum History (Copy)
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Pademelons History (Copy)
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Shell Fish - Victoria (Copy)
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Shark History (Copy)
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Dolphins (Copy)
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Whales in Victoria (Copy)
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Seals (Copy)
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Native Birds of Victoria (Copy)
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Native Penguins (Copy)
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Seagull (Copy)
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Pelicans (Copy)
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Curlew (Copy)
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Hawks History (Copy)
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Owl History (Copy)
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Kookaburras (Copy)
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Magpie History (Copy)
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Willy Wag Tail (Copy)
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Swans (Copy)
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Native Reptiles of Victoria (Copy)
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Bats (Copy)
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Native Snakes of Victoria (Copy)
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Native Lizards (Copy)
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Native Spiders of Victoria (Copy)
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Moths History (Copy)
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Frog History (Copy)
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Native Ants (Copy)
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Bees (Copy)
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Turtle History (Copy)
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Ibis - Djarook (Copy)
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Dragonflies of Victoria (Copy)
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Flies of Victoria (Copy)
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Blue Tongue Lizard of Victoria (Copy)
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Sea Eagle (Copy)
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Lady Bugs of Victoria (Copy)
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Species Introduced during Colonisation
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Animals Introduced (Copy)
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Endangered Animals and Birds of Victoria (Copy)
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Weeds Introduced (Copy)
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Sheep History in Victoria (Copy)
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Rabbit History (Copy)
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Fox History in Victoria (Copy)
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Mice and Rats History (Copy)
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Cattle History (Copy)
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Dog History (Copy)
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Cat History (Copy)
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Endangered Plants and Flora (Copy)
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Magic Lands Alliance (MLA) Educational Series
The MLA Educational Series is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary learning program grounded in First Nations knowledge systems, scientific research, and historical truth-telling. It is designed to connect learners to Country—through geology, ecology, culture, language, and story—tracing relationships across deep time into the present.
The articles currently available on the Magic Lands platform represent the first stage of this educational series—a growing body of research and storytelling focused on the science, history, and culture of Victoria, Australia. These works form the foundation of a much larger learning framework, bringing together knowledge from across Wadawurrung Country and beyond.
Developed alongside the feature film Magic Lands – Purra and Buckley’s Chance, the series offers a rich exploration of Victoria’s landscapes and the knowledge systems of its First Peoples. Drawing on more than 800 referenced articles and years of research across Victoria, Australia, and global contexts (Vegter, 2025), the program integrates disciplines including archaeology, geology, ecology, and Indigenous cultural sciences to reveal the interconnected story of land, life, and identity.
As the Magic Lands film projects move through production and completion, on-Country cultural infrastructure will be developed, enabling the full delivery of structured courses, immersive education experiences, and Indigenous-led tourism initiatives. These next stages will transform the series from a digital knowledge base into a living, place-based learning environment.
At present, the educational content is freely accessible online (as of April 2026), ensuring open access to knowledge during this foundational phase. Over time, this will evolve into a supported education and tourism model that sustains long-term cultural, educational, and community outcomes.
Grounded in collaboration with First Nations communities, the MLA Educational Series invites learners to engage deeply with the enduring relationships between people, Country, sky, and sea—before, during, and after colonisation.
Written and delivered by
James Vegter and Trevor Abrahams

