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Indigenous Education In Australia

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Education is a significant fundamental building block to create a healthy community and is a key pathway to more opportunities as well as the endurance of prosperity and wellbeing for all Australians (Abbott 2014, pp.2–10). Australia’s contemporary education is established by a cultural landscape, an environment that is demanding for those who do not share the frequent expectations and the fundamental requirements (McRae et al., 2000, p. 21). Indigenous young Australians are considered to be the most disadvantaged group in the education sector of Australia where upholding the strict requirements of schooling can be problematic (Ockenden, 2014, p. 4). There are many reasons why Indigenous students find it hard to perform well in schools; circumstances …show more content…

The effects of poor attendance patterns and academic levels, this can be proven through their performance in the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests conducted. Considering location of Indigenous Australians, in 2011, 21.4% of the young people were estimated to be living in Australia’s remote areas (ABS 2013). This can be a disadvantage as Biddle notes, it is more difficult and costly to provide students with education and where there are educational insituties available they somewhat lack in basic services, sufficient trained teachers or student amenities (Ockenden, 2014).There is an importance placed upon early childhood education as it is critical in shaping the students future attitudes towards education and building attitudes towards ones self (Bourke, Rigby & Burden, 2000). The National Aboriginal Education Committee (1989) also speak to show that Indigenous children’s encounters with western education can have an extensive effect on their later educational outcomes. Home also plays a major role as parental support and their own experience with school and academic achievements can be recognised as a positive affect on attendance and engagement of Indigenous students (Ockenden, 2014). Having student and community connection in learning can be identified as a …show more content…

It is an approach to building students cultural identity and their pride as well as a focus on promoting alternative education and training pathways. The Community Festival program, an initiative of the Australian Governemnt, encourages students to attend school and lead healthy styles through participation in concerts and cultural activities, which teachers responded with positive feedback, concluding the activities as a ‘vaulable source of encouragement and inspiration for students, teachers and community members’ (Purdie & Buckley, 2010). Other significant programs such as the ABSTUDY, scholarships and ‘Future Footprints Program’ help assist students to remain in education and aim to support sutdents’ engagement and to increase their transition from school, to further education or alternative pathways or

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