Indigenous Education
ACT public schools encourage indigenous students to participate in education so as to achieve equitable and appropriate educational outcomes, especially with literacy and numeracy skills.
Indigenous programs also aim to increase student understanding of, and respect for, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural perspectives and to extend the teaching of these perspectives across the school curriculum. These programs assist schools to implement measures to address prejudice and racism and address the maintenance and development of Indigenous languages.
The AEP aims to provide a guideline for schools that ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander involvement in educational decision making; provide equality of access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to education services. In addition to those long-term goals, education and training providers implement strategies.
The ACT Department of Education and Training, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategic Plan 2006–09 has been developed in association with the Australian Directions in Indigenous Education and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy (AEP).
The Indigenous Education Consultative Body (IECB) provides advice to the Department of Education and Training. The IECB holds community meetings to provide parents, caregivers and members of Indigenous communities in the ACT with opportunities to discuss issues that they consider impact on educational outcomes for Indigenous students
The Department’s Indigenous Policy and Organisational Practice section (IPOP) supports ACT public schools to implement the strategic directions of the plan and in particular coordinates the provision of the Indigenous Education Officers program.
The Department regularly reports to the ACT Legislative Assembly on achievements in Indigenous education in ACT public schools. Copies of these reports can be downloaded from this website.
If you would like further information on Indigenous Education programs please contact the IPOP on telephone 02 6205 9195 or fax 02 6205 5410.
