Dear Colleagues,

Education is one effective way of redressing those aspects of our history which have adversely affected contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies. In 2021, the CSO launched the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy Implementation Plan 2021 - 2025, which identifies seven priority areas for development:

Leadership, quality teaching and development: ensuring children and young people are taught by skilled educators who are culturally competent in the local context and set high expectations for learning that incorporates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives.
Culture and identity: through the delivery of the Australian Curriculum, ensuring all Australian children and young people have the opportunity to learn about the histories and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Partnerships: building quality partnerships between education sectors and local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and other stakeholders, characterised by listening and responding, strong accountability and active engagement, collaborative information sharing and informed decision making.
Attendance: working with schools and services to engage families and communities on strategies to address barriers to school attendance.
Transition points including pathways to post-school options: supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people at critical stages of their education to improve engagement, retention and attainment and develop the skills to participate fully in schooling, society and work.
School and child readiness: ensuring high quality, culturally inclusive early childhood education services and schools work with families and communities to establish a sound foundation for early learning, including a child’s transition to school.
Literacy and numeracy: developing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s English literacy and numeracy proficiencies by applying proven, culturally inclusive, responsive and personalised approaches to learning in order to improve their educational attainment, life choices and options.

One of the initiatives to support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students that our system of schools is most proud of is Wii Gaay (clever child) which is designed to support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to achieve their true potential. Last week was the second learning hub of Wii Gaay 2023. The guiding theme was ‘Connected to Country’. Our students and staff team had a busy week being a part of cultural, educational and recreational experiences which were largely based at Lake Keepit Sport and Recreation Centre.

The week started with cultural experiences at Boundary Rock, Tamworth Botanical Gardens and Lake Keepit with Uncle Len Waters and the Tamworth Local Aboriginal Lands Council’s Opportunity Hub and Rangers. Based on the cultural experiences, students engaged with English, mathematics and IT projects with Kelly Walters, Helen Rowsell, Hanne Pedersen and our valuable team of Aboriginal Education Assistants.

The learning hub finished with a special presentation of the students' work and celebration of 21 years of the Wii Gaay program in the Armidale Diocese. Thank you to Cate Taylor and Di Brown for being there to celebrate; Hanne Pedersen, Coordinator: Wii Gaay & Cultural Assessments for her dedication and preparation of this special event; and many thanks also to the parents and mentors who joined us via Zoom. And of course a very special thank you to Karen Tighe, Subject Matter Expert: Indigenous Education K-12 for her leadership and tireless work to support the improved faith, learning and cultural outcomes of all of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Best wishes,

Chris

Indigenous Education News

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