Abstract:
Australia's geographic position in the southeast quadrant of Asia can hardly be disputed, but the historical
and emotional ties, until recent times, have been with England and Europe rather than the countries to the
north. As the nation take steps to adjust awareness of its location and implications for international relationships
and economic development, it has simultaneously been revising its understanding of the past, with specific
and ongoing concern for redressing past injustices toward indigenous Australians. The University of
Technology, Sydney, actively promotes intercultural awareness among its highly diverse staff and student
body, with a special concern for providing for indigenous learners and staff. As academics, the authors had
an opportunity to design an interactive online learning activity for exploring issues a/Reconciliation within
this wider context. As they worked on clarifying a design brief, the authors realized that more fundamental
beliefs and issues were shaping their discussions. This article reports on what happened when they found
that they were unable to continue with the initial brief and instead moved to reconsider their separate and
mutual perceptions of intercultural issues shaping the process of Reconciliation in Australia. This led to
design of a simulation for values-based learning adaptable to issues of Reconciliation and other ways of
achieving cultural conflict-resolution.
