Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education

The Queensland Government has released its action plan to help improve the ear and hearing health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.  The plan brings together the health, education and early childhood sectors to combat ear health and hearing problems that can seriously impact on a child’s development.  The action plan sits within a 10 year framework launched in March 2016 which aims to prevent and manage the high rates of middle-ear disease and associated hearing loss among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Deadly Kids Deadly Futures Framework 2016-2026

Deadly Kids Deadly Futures Action Plan 2020-21

The Department of Education has developed the  Deadly Kids Can Listen and Learn course to support the learning outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who experience conductive hearing loss as a result of middle ear disease.

“It is clear that Closing the Gap is a national responsibility that belongs with every Australian. Ending the disparity is complex and challenging. This will not lessen our resolve or diminish our efforts, even when some problems seem intractable and targets elusive.” (Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull).

Through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) all governments in Australia have agreed to a set of educational priorities and reform directions to reduce Indigenous disadvantage.

The Australian Government is committed to closing the gap between the outcomes of Indigenous Australians and other Australians. The Closing the Gap initiative provides targets in a range of areas, including educational outcomes and also tracks progress against those targets. Find more about the targets and outcomes here.

The Australian Education, Early Childhood Development, Youth Affairs Senior Officials Committee (AEEYSOC) has developed a high level strategy framework that will focus on directions in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education for national collaborations.

This strategy has seven priority areas. These are:

1. Leadership, quality teaching and workforce development
2. Culture and identity
3. Partnerships
4. Attendance
5. Transition points including pathways to post-school options
6. School and child readiness
7. Literacy and numeracy

Queensland Catholic Education has a key role in working towards the Strategy’s purpose, which reads:

• Utilising the strategy’s principles and priority areas to inform the development and implementation of both local and systemic-level actions
• Identifying areas where collaborative action between or across governments, in consultation with the non-government sector, is required to complement local efforts.

This strategy is a living document. New national collaborative actions may emerge as priorities evolve and work is completed

Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage: Key Indicators 2020 – Productivity Commission

Reconciliation Australia

Narragunnawali Awards

Aboriginal cultures: Sharing, connecting and practising – ABC Education