Aboriginal Education

Related Policies
Curriculum

Rationale/Purpose
Aboriginality is not just a physical manifestation of Aboriginality, but includes a combination of cultural
heritage, spirituality and an intrinsic link with the land.
Being Aboriginal has nothing to do with the colour of your skin or the shape of your nose. It is a spiritual
feeling, an identity you know in your heart. It is unique feeling that may be difficult for non-Aboriginal
people to understand. Linda Burney, 1994.
In 1993, the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn launched its Aboriginal Education Policy. This policy
stood as an affirmation that we, as a Church, follow the example of Jesus and seek to achieve justice and
harmony with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through educational processes.
There is a growing awareness of the sublime dignity of human persons, who stand above all things and
whose rights and duties are universal and inviolable. They ought, therefore, to have ready access to all
that is necessary for living a genuinely human life: for example, food, clothing, housing, ... the right to
education, and work.
#26, The Church in the Modern World
The Catholic Education Commission acknowledges the progress made so far and calls upon the Catholic
Education System, Catholic Education Office and Catholic schools to continue to play an important role in
establishing processes and procedures to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in
contemporary society.
We need to develop working partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples to achieve
more equitable outcomes in education. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and culture are one
of the three Cross-curricular priorities embedded in the Australian curriculum and provides for all learners
to deepen their knowledge of Australia by engaging with the worlds oldest continuous living culture.
Catholic schools have a role to play in developing attitudes, knowledge and behaviours which continue to
promote Reconciliation at all levels in our school communities.
This policy has been written in line with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan
2010-2014, CEC Aboriginal Education Strategic Planning Policy 2009,
http://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/cross_curriculum_priorities.html and
http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/Programs/Documents/AdminGuide2011Update.pdf (page 22)
Achieving parity and equitable outcomes are objectives of the Archdiocesan Aboriginal Education
Funding Agreement with the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training and
reflected in the performance indicators negotiated for the quadrennial funding period 2009 2012.

Definitions
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person
is of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent; or
identifies as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; or
is accepted as such by the community in which he/she lives or has lived.

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Policy
The Catholic Education Commission of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn supports the National
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy and the National Goals for Schooling in the 21 st
Century and works to achieve improved and equitable educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander students.
The seven key focus areas for the Catholic Education System are:
Access and Participation
Readiness for school
Engagement and connection
Attendance & Retention
Literacy & Numeracy
Leadership, quality teaching and workforce development
Pathways to real post-school options

Procedures
1. Access and Participation
Catholic schools will encourage the enrolment and participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
students, through the development of welcoming and supportive environments for Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander students and their families, by:
ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities know that Catholic Schools welcome
the presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
promoting information relating to Catholic school programs to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander community and families through other agencies and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
organisations
assisting the enrolment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through flexible and
culturally sensitive processes and procedures that recognize the needs of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander families and their membership in extended families
supporting students and their families in times of transition
monitoring and case managing the progress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
liaising with specialist Catholic Education Office Aboriginal Education Staff

2. Readiness for School

Catholic schools will provide culturally inclusive high quality early childhood education and care that can
assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children get the best start in life by:
developing outreach strategies to connect with early childhood education centres
ensuring the delivery of quality early education programs through partnerships with families
providing culturally appropriate on-entry assessment program to assess students pre-literacy,
literacy, pre-numeracy and numeracy skills to assist with the implementation of early intervention
strategies

3. Engagement and Connection

The Catholic Education System will promote the involvement of parents/carers of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander students, community by:

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 Aboriginal Education
providing a climate in schools that welcomes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as
valuable members of the education community through personalising invitations to families of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to all school events and encourage attendance
planning for and utilising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as special teachers of the
culture, history, contemporary society and languages of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples in the area. Knowledge of who the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents/carers are
and what gifts they may have to contribute to the school community will benefit schools in the
Archdiocese
providing information and opportunities for parents/carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
students to participate confidently within the school and encourage participation on School Boards
and committees
providing information to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents/carers and students about the
range of support programs available through the CEO Aboriginal Education Team and other
agencies
ensuring parents understanding of school life is clarified in collaboration with Aboriginal Education
Staff and support programs available through the CEO Aboriginal Education Team and other
agencies

4. Attendance and Retention

Catholic schools will endeavour to increase the attendance rates of students and improve the retention of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in Years 8-12 and improve the attainment of Year 10 and
Year 12 Certificates or equivalents by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students by:
Providing welcoming, culturally sensitive and supportive school environments.
Developing and implementing programs and procedures in school for students, staff and school
communities to combat racism.
Establishing processes for positive and effective relationships between the staff and Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander students.
Establishing mentoring, role modeling and student centered programs at the school level to
promote and encourage the retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students throughout
the secondary years.
Providing school and inter-agency support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
students and their families to encourage and assist regular school attendance.
Providing quality structured workplace opportunities and vocational education programs at the
school level for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Establishing community and industry education clusters to encourage attainment and retention of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to Year 10 and Year 12 Certificate levels, and to
increase post-compulsory schooling options.

5. Literacy and Numeracy

Catholic schools will endeavour to improve all levels of literacy and numeracy awareness and
understanding of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander students, by:
establishing processes and procedures to identify and cater for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students not achieving equitable outcomes in literacy and numeracy
promoting and demonstrating the recognition and valuing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
ways of learning and cultural differences
developing and implementing in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff,
parents and community members, culturally sensitive processes, content and resources for literacy

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 Aboriginal Education
and numeracy development across the curriculum for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
students
developing and implementing at the school level a framework, including the collection of baseline
data, for reporting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student progress and achievement in
literacy and numeracy
developing literacy and numeracy performance measures and assessment methods at the school
level that are culturally sensitive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
establishing language programs that encourage and assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
students to achieve proficiency in Standard Australian English, and are inclusive of the students
home languages

6. Leadership, Quality Teaching and Workforce Development

Catholic schools will provide opportunities in professional development to support Principals and teachers
in fostering student engagement to improve student educational outcomes by:
representing the Churchs view of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Reconciliation
developing and implementing learning programs and experiences that are based on culturally
inclusive pedagogy and allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to be strong in their
own culture and language and reposition their culture, languages, histories, beliefs and lifestyles in
a way which affirms identity and the ability to operate in cross cultural situations
providing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples employed by the Catholic
Education Office to complete teacher training or other qualifications which will equip them to
develop/improve their opportunities within the Catholic Education System
informing all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff of training and career opportunities and
encouraging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees to engage in professional learning
recruiting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff by advertising positions widely, including in the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander media
developing a database of Aboriginal employees who can provide relief support in schools

7. Pathways to Real Post-school Options

Catholic schools will maximise opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to
make successful transition from school to work and further study by:
strengthening partnerships between schools, VET providers, universities and Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander communities to broaden the horizons and post-school options for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander students
liaising with universities regarding opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to
undertake their teaching practicum in Catholic Schools
developing innovative uses of interface technologies with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
students

References
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan 2010-2014.
CEC Aboriginal Education Strategic Planning Policy 2009
National Curriculum - Cross Curriculum Priorities:
http://www.acara.edu.au/curriculum/cross_curriculum_priorities.html
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Strategic Initiatives Programmes Target and
Performance Indicators (2010 - 2014 Quadrennial).
DEEWR School Programs Admin Guide 2011

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http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/Programs/Documents/AdminGuide2011Update.pdf (page 22)
Address of John Paul II, To the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders in Blatherskite Park, Alice
Springs (Australia), 29 November 1986.
http://www.natsicc.org.au/popes_speech.htm
The Church in the Modern World
http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-
ii_cons_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html

Forms
Nil

Approved By: Service Area Leadership Team

Issuing Service Area: Religious Education and Curriculum Services
Implementation Date: 1993
Policy Revision Date: August 2012
CEO Contact Officer: Head, Religious Education and Curriculum Services
TRIM Record Number: R88420

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