Indigenous Education is designed to attain two goals. The first is to ensure Indigenous students at all levels are able to participate in education and achieve appropriate, positive outcomes on an individual level. The second is to develop programs that assist the wider community to increase their understanding of Indigenous culture and history. The aim is to remove prejudice or racial intolerance. Part of both goals is to ensure that Indigenous languages remain alive in Australia.

In working to achieve these goals, it is essential to have Indigenous input at all levels from development to presentation and support. All levels and groups encourage this.

This page looks at Commonwealth involvement in this area, language related activity [see below], research and other information including portals, associations and more.

The First Page looks at Indigenous education in all Australian states & Territories.

The Indigenous Resources page provides support and resources. For further Indigenous Language information, go to this page.

Select the relevant page for information by using the links above or the page number links at the top of this section.

If you are aware of any worthwhile information which is not included, suggestions or additions are welcome and will be given due consideration.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that the following may contain images and voices of deceased persons.

Commonwealth

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan 2010-2014
  This Press Release gives details of the finalisation of the Plan [previously the Indigenous Education Action Plan]. Related links include :

• Indigenous Education Action Plan 2010-2014 Consultation
  ‘The draft plan has been developed with significant input from education systems and some prominent Indigenous educators. The public consultation process on the draft Indigenous Education Action Plan closed on 28 February 2010’.
• Submissions
  Submissions that were not asked to be kept confidential can be found here.
• Draft Indigenous Education Action Plan
  For a copy of the Consultation Draft use this link.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan 2010-2014
  A copy can be downloaded here.
• Full Focus Schools
  A listing of a key group of schools undertaking the plan.

• Aboriginal Studies, University - Government Resources.
• Abstudy
  Financial assistance for people of Aboriginal descent to undertake secondary or tertiary study.
• A Model Of More Culturally Inclusive and Educationally Effective Schools
• Centrelink Indigenous Cadetship Program
  ‘Provides assistance to students to complete study at an approved tertiary institution. The Cadet will commence work in their home office on completion of their course of study.’
• Commonwealth Government - Indigenous Education Site
  Now at DEEWR. It also covers Employment and work areas. Separate sections are included for Early Childhood, Schooling, Higher Education and Skills [Training].
• Early Childhood
  ‘Our children are our future. Find out more about support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’. There is also a section on Schooling.
• Indigenous Support Programme
  Guidelines, Indigenous Education Statement, Indigenous Higher Education Units [by state].
• Indigenous Teaching at Australian Universities
  ‘The resources on this website are designed for anyone involved in Indigenous teaching in Australian Universities - or beyond. Teaching exemplars [are] based on research interviews, Materials from a 2009 Forum on Indigenous Learning & Teaching and Supporting resources. Support for this website has been provided by the Australian Learning & Teaching Council’.
• Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme [ITAS]
  ‘Available to eligible non-government Vocational Education and Training institutions to assist Indigenous students undertaking VET courses leading to the attainment of a Certificate Level III or above qualification’.
• INDIGO
  ‘INDIGO is a website operated by the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations [DEEWR], to assist in the administration of DEEWR’s Indigenous Education Programmes.’
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy
  Archived version.
• National Strategy For Indigenous Education
  21 long term national goals are listed.
• Recurrent Expenditure Funding for Schools
  Find information for both Government and Non-Government schools. You can also find information about Supplementary Recurrent Assistance under each of the schooling levels on the main site.
• What Works. The Work Program
  ‘Professional action materials for improving outcomes for Indigenous students.’ Their Publications page provides downloads from The Guide Book to research papers.

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Language

Aboriginal Language Education

Includes courses and resources listed here as a group, rather than via state or territory. This should also be taken in conjunction with the Language information on this Indigenous Australia page.

• Aboriginal English
  University of New England. Aboriginal English usage and formation.
• Aboriginal English [Lingua Franca, ABC]
  ‘The form of English known as Aboriginal English is a distinct indigenous form that, rather than being a bastardised kind of Australian English, was founded earlier and came into being out of different language needs and components’. Listen, download or get the transcript. First broadcast in December 2011.
• Aboriginal Languages [NSW BoS]
  Aboriginal Language courses run by the Department of Education, NSW. PDF files for the syllabus, etc..
• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Languages of Australia
  ‘More than 200 Australian Indigenous languages. Less than 20 languages are strong, and even these are endangered: the others have been destroyed, live in the memories of the elderly, or are being revived by their communities. This site has annotated links to 231 resources for about 80 languages. About 35% of these resources are produced or published by Indigenous people.’ One page lists all Courses run at colleges and universities.
• Aboriginal Languages [WA]
  Western Australian Department of Education.
• AGQTP Literacy in Aboriginal Languages
  ‘Outlines the Australian Government Quality Teacher Programme Literacy in Aboriginal Languages project and provides some answers for schools starting Aboriginal language programs. Includes sample teaching and learning units developed and trialled by participating schools, student work samples, photographs and video and audio interviews.’
• Australian Languages
  Links compiled by the Australian National University.
• AIATSIS Indigenous Languages & Language Maintenance
  Portal for language and language maintenance.
• Guwaabal
  ‘One part of a range of resources available to GY speakers, and those wishing to learn the language. Click on links to learn more, or to contact the Yuwaalaraay Language Program.’
• Indigenous Languages - A National Approach
  background, plus read the document online.
• Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay Dictionary
  Takes you direct to the dictionary. A second link provides a Bibliography and resources.
• Muurrbay
  Aboriginal Language & Culture Co-operative. >Runs adult education classes and school projects in northern, coastal NSW based on Indigenous language.
• NSW Aboriginal Languages Research and Resource Centre
  ‘Provides Aboriginal communities with technical linguistic and teaching advice, research assistance, assistance to record language speakers, relevant language revival related training tailored to community needs, mentoring of networking and collaboration between language initiatives across the state.’
• NSW TAFE Courses
  Enter Aboriginal Language in the Search For box, or select A from the alphabetical list.
• Western Australian Aboriginal English
  Information, with links to further data, programs, material.

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Research

• Achieving Educational Equality For Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
  Report from the Ministerial Council on ‘making the achievement of educational equality for Australia’s indigenous people an urgent national priority’.
• Australian Directions in Indigenous Education 2005-2008
  ‘Recommendations to focus national effort in Indigenous education over the 2005-2008 quadrennium. The recommendations seek to accelerate the pace of change by engaging Indigenous children and young people in learning.’
• Better Practice in School Attendance
  Improving the School Attendance of Indigenous Students. Attendance patterns, causes and ways of improving them.
• Cultural Dimensions of Indigenous Participation in Education and Training
  ‘This study provides an important innovation to the existing literature by explicitly attempting to measure “cultural attachment” and its relationship with post-compulsory education and training’. Done through NCVER.
  You need to be able to log in to access this site but registration is free.
• MCEECDYA - Indigenous Education
  Access multiple discussion papers and reports through this link.
• Effective Learning Issues
  For Indigenous Children Aged 0 to 8 Years. Early childhood learning, areas of concern needing to be addressed.
• Indigenous Cultural Competency in Australian Universities Project
  ‘The Project will run from July 2009 to April 2011. It will involve a number of pilots of Indigenous cultural competency activities in Australian universities, leading to the production and endorsement of a national best practice framework for implementing Indigenous cultural competency across the university sector’.
• Exploring Multiple Pathways for Indigenous Students
  Looking at transition points for indigenous students [primary → secondary, etc.].
• Indigenous Disadvantage : Key Indicators 2009
  Huge document. One section covers education. from the Productivity Commission.
• Indigenous Higher Education Council Report
  Forms part of the IHEAC section of the Commonwealth DEEWR site.
• Indigenous Languages Programs in Australian Schools
  A Way Forward. ‘Looks at practices which would strengthen the quality of Indigenous language programs in schools.’
  You now have to be able to log-in to access this site.
• Literacy in Remote Indigenous Australia
  Inge Kral; Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, ANU. ‘The literacy debate rarely addresses the critical social and historical factors that also account for why literacy levels among remote Indigenous youth are lower than their mainstream counterparts. This paper explores several factors that can contribute to the lower rates of literacy, many of which actually have little to do with the quality of teaching or resources, school attendance or lower expectations of competence.’
• MCEETYA Task Force on Indigenous Education
  Development of indigenous education.
• National Statement of Principles And Standards
  For More Culturally Inclusive Schooling in the 21st Century. MCEETYA, 2000.
• Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage : Key Indicators
  ‘Released on 1 June 2007.’ Contents, related publications. PDF and RTF formats. Access earlier reports from this page.
• Practical Reconciliation And Continuing Disadvantage in Indigenous Education
  Research report in PDF format by Australian National University academics.
• Revisiting Indigenous Education
  ‘Argues that there is no gap between the literacy and numeracy of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.’
• The Case for Change
  A review of contemporary research on Indigenous education outcomes. ‘This Australian study [2004] examines contemporary research on indigenous education and proposes improvements for future research and its application.’
• Yachad Accelerated Learning Project
  ‘A three-year educational intervention pilot program aimed at raising the scholastic achievements of students in remote and rural locations in Australia, particularly those with a high proportion of academically low achieving Indigenous students. It is based on whole of community educational approaches developed by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.’

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Other Information

Associations, Organisations & Unions

Includes both Indigenous and other groups interested in developing Indigenous education and opportunities.

• Aboriginal Education Association [Victorian]
  All aspects Aboriginal education. Has a Bibliography page which lets you trace the history of Aboriginal education in Victoria.
  A new site is under construction. Come back soon for the above information.
• Australian Institute of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Studies
• Dare to Lead
  ‘Commonwealth funded national project with a focus on improving educational outcomes for Indigenous students.’ Information, resources, professional development, research, professional readings, school initiatives and more.
• NTEU Indigenous
• Same Kids, Same Goals
  Principals and IEWs Working Together - A joint project between Dare to Lead and the Dusseldorp Skills Forum. ‘IEWs, when properly skilled and effectively supported are a crucial feature of the successful education of Indigenous Australian students in mainstream school settings. Same Kids Same Goals is a project conducted in partnership with Dare To Lead and is aimed at addressing the importance of an effective working relationship between school Principals and IEWs.’ Check the Activities page in particular.
  Highly Recommended !
• The Australian Indigenous Education Foundation [AIEF]
  ‘A private sector led, non-profit organisation focused on empowering Indigenous children in financial need to build a future through quality education and career pathways at Australia’s leading schools, universities and companies. With your help, we aim to provide scholarships to educate 2 000 Indigenous children at some of the leading schools and universities in the nation and equip them to pursue productive, fulfilling careers when they finish their schooling’.

Portals

Link collections, a number of which relate to Indigenous education and associated areas.

• ABC Indigenous
  Gives access to programs aired on the ABC Australia. These are often linked to education.
• Aboriginal Studies Virtual Library
  Links to sites about Aboriginal Education and studies.
• Australian Aboriginal Studies
  AcademicInfo. Links to Aboriginal Australia.
• Coombsweb
  “National Institute for Asia and the Pacific Server.” Searchable document database, journals and information on indigenous culture and education.
• HealthInfoNet
  Links, including links to universities, other educational providers and courses.

Indigenous Education

Links to areas of Indigenous education, particularly resources and government documentation. Each has annotated links.

• 8ways
  8 Aboriginal Ways of Learning. ‘This Aboriginal pedagogy framework is expressed as eight interconnected pedagogies involving narrative-driven learning, visualised learning processes, hands-on/reflective techniques, use of symbols/metaphors, land-based learning, indirect/synergistic logic, modelled/scaffolded genre mastery and connectedness to community. But these can change in different settings’.
• Indigenous Australian Traditional and Contemporary Education Issues
  ‘The aim of this page [on Facebook] is to demonstrate differences btw traditional methods of education used by Indigenous Australians, and the system currently in Australia’.
  You now have to be able to log in to access this site.
• Indigenous Studies Databases
  University of South Australia. Links to databases and information sources for Aboriginal & Indigenous Studies and education.
• Links to Aboriginal Australia
  Education and Aboriginal life, art and culture.
• National Web Site [NATSIEW]
  “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education.” Geared to the educational needs and aspirations of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Two sections. The Education Website and a Chronology of History.
  Highly Recommended !
• TAFE and University Koorie Units
  ‘Links to all Victorian and [many] interstate TAFE and University Koorie units.’
  Highly Recommended !

Publications

Includes Bibliographies, Books, Journals, …

• Australian Journal of Indigenous Education
  ‘The only journal for educators devoted specifically to issues of practice, pedagogy and policy in Indigenous education in Australia. The journal has an international audience and is highly valued by its readers as a reliable source of information on Indigenous education issues.’
• Aboriginal Education Archives
  Flinders University [South Australia]. Links to extensive information. If not a student or staff member you need special access permission.
• DEEWR School Education Publications
  Links to research publications dealing with Indigenous Education.
• Interactive Ochre [Toolbox]
  A Toolbox from Australian Flexible Learning designed to raise Indigenous Cultural Awareness. Links to related toolboxes connected with Indigenous education and life.
• Ngankat-kalo Aboriginal Education Pre 1788-2001
  Use time sectors to access information.
  A new site is being developed. Come back soon for the above information

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