First Steps in Closing the Gap
Schooling
Literacy and numeracy are critical to a better life for individuals. Economic self-reliance in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities depends on a sound foundation of education and training.
The 2006 National Report on Schooling in Australia indicates that reading, writing and numeracy outcomes for Indigenous students continue to be substantially lower than for non-Indigenous students. Retention rates to Year 12 are also much lower than for other students (Chart 2).
Many Indigenous children are fundamentally disengaged from education. In remote Australia, there has been chronic under investment in educational infrastructure on the assumption that many children simply do not go to school.
In February we provided $98.8 million over five years from 2007-08 for 200 extra teachers for remote community schools in the Northern Territory. These teachers will assist in the education of around 2000 young people of compulsory school age who are currently not enrolled in school in communities involved in the Northern Territory Emergency Response. This funding is part of our commitment to build a skilled and professional workforce to cope with the challenges of remote Indigenous education. Strong and informed school leadership and quality teaching are essential to improving Indigenous education outcomes.
The Australian Government is also looking to the States and Territories to ensure that resources in their jurisdictions are allocated to areas of high need.
In this Budget, the COAG goal of halving the gap in literacy and numeracy achievement within a decade is supported by $56.4 million in national funding over four years. This measure provides an Indigenous focus within the Government’s National Action Plan on Literacy and Numeracy.
The funds will provide extra help for schools, enabling them to expand intensive literacy and numeracy approaches (such as the National Accelerated Literacy Program) that have been successful with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
The measure will also provide professional support for teachers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to develop Individual Learning Plans. Many education providers already support Individual Learning Plans for Indigenous students to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each student and set out the areas to be targeted for improvement. The new funding will expand this good practice nationally.
Parents will be able to see these plans and, with teachers, become part of their children’s learning development. Schools and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families will work together to reinforce the value of education.
This initiative is consistent with the proposal from the 2020 Summit for education providers to implement individual education compacts for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children with their families.
In the Northern Territory, funding of $28.9 million over four years will build three Indigenous student accommodation facilities: two 40-bed facilities and one 72-bed facility. The Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) has committed a further $15 million to this measure. The facilities will accommodate students from years 8 to 12 and help to give Aboriginal young people from remote areas access to a secondary education. This measure will contribute to COAG’s goal of halving the gap in Years 12 or equivalent attainment by 2020, offering new opportunities for many young Territorians.
The Australian Government will look to maximise the educational and employment outcomes of these students by developing strategic links between the colleges and major sources of employment in each region. The boarding colleges will also be developed to provide appropriate pastoral care and support to students and their families, many of whom may not have lived away from home before.
In March 2008 the Government announced funding for a 120-bed secondary student hostel in Weipa, Queensland, under the existing $38.8 million Indigenous Boarding Hostels Partnership Program.
In the longer term the students and their families will benefit from the improved education and employment outcomes that these opportunities will provide, which will in turn have an impact on health and general wellbeing.
