Aboriginal education
The NSW Department of Education is committed to being a strong culturally responsive and inclusive education system where every Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander learner and student is known, valued, and cared for to learn, grow, and belong. Our commitment to creating an equitable and outstanding education system affirms Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education is everybody's business.
Audience
All staff, including volunteers, and contractors, and students attending NSW public schools and preschools.
| Version number | Last updated | Description of changes | Approved by |
|---|---|---|---|
| V04.0.0 | 14/03/2024 | Updated under the 2023 Policy and procedure review program, including conversion into the new template, and improving document readability. New procedure document, Aboriginal education procedures, added to policy. | Executive Director, Aboriginal Outcomes and Partnership |
Document history
2024 Jan 31 Implementation document, Turning Policy into Action removed. Contents incorporated into Turning Policy into Action eLearning.
2022 Aug 09 - updated links in policy statement.
2021 Dec 23 - updated policy statement: updated contact details. Updated implementation document Turning Policy into Action: updated references, titles and formatting.
2020 Jun 09 - updated contact details.
From November 2016, this policy applies to all sectors of public education and all departmental employees, not just to the school sector.
The first Aboriginal Education Policy released in 1982 focused on the advancement of Aboriginal communities and an appreciation of Aboriginal cultures and societies by other Australians.
A decade later, this landmark policy was reviewed to make the policy relevant to schools with small numbers of Aboriginal students.
The 1996 Aboriginal Education Policy had three focus areas:
Aboriginal students
Aboriginal communities
All staff, students and schools.
Many Aboriginal communities and a range of staff made significant contributions to the development and implementation of this policy.
In October 2003, the NSW Government announced a review of the effectiveness of the provision of Aboriginal education and training for Aboriginal students in New South Wales. The Aboriginal Education Review raised concerns about the consistency with which the Aboriginal Education Policy had been implemented and recommended that the Aboriginal Education Policy be updated in partnership with the NSW AECG Inc.
As a result the Aboriginal Education Policy has been updated as an action within the Aboriginal Education and Training Strategy 2006-2008. Extensive consultations and feedback on the draft were supported by the Department and the NSW AECG Inc. Feedback was received from 189 group and individual submissions. More than 1000 people were involved.
Superseded documents
Aboriginal Education and Training Policy PD/2008/0385/V02;
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan 2010-2014 (ATSIEAP);
Turning Policy into Action: A Guide for Local Planning Groups (2009);
Aboriginal Education and Training Policy: An Introductory Guide (2009);
Aboriginal Education Policy PD/2005/0209/V03
- Policy statement
The NSW Department of Education is committed to:- promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural identity, to improve the wellbeing and educational outcomes of learners and students, in culturally safe environments, so they achieve and excel
- increasing knowledge and understanding of all learners, students and staff about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and their histories, cultures and experiences
- implementing consistent system-wide approaches for developing and maintaining culturally safe workplaces for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander staff
- providing mandatory Aboriginal Cultural Education (staff only) for all department employees
- partnering with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities, and recognising the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc. (NSW AECG Inc.) as the peak community advisory body to the department on Aboriginal education.
- Context
- The Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration sets out a vision for a world class education system that encourages and supports every student to be the very best they can be, no matter where they live or what kind of learning challenges they may face.
- Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) sets consistent national standards to improve learning outcomes for all young Australians. ACARA acknowledges the gap in learning outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their non-Indigenous peers. It recognises the need for the Australian curriculum to provide every opportunity possible to 'close the gap'.
- Strong strides together: Meeting the educational goals for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students - 'In line with the Mparntwe (Alice Springs) Education Declaration (Council of Australian Governments Education Council 2019), the NSW Department of Education (the department) is committed to the inherent right of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students to fair, equitable, culturally inclusive and significant educational opportunities.'
- The Partnership Agreement with the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc. the department and the NSW AECG Inc. are accountable to one another as we work to ensure that our students achieve their full potential academically, and as we embrace and foster their social, emotional, spiritual and cultural needs throughout their individual journeys.
- The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Strategy 2015 (PDF 1778 KB) provides a consistent approach across states and territories to deliver and report on Aboriginal education. The purpose of the strategy is to assist schools to accelerate improvements in the educational outcomes of Aboriginal students. NSW and other jurisdictions have contributed to the strategy.
- The Report of the Review of Aboriginal Education Yanigurra Muya: Ganggurrinyma Yaarri details the findings and recommendations from the Aboriginal Education Review.
- NSW Department of Education Code of Conduct all staff must comply with the department's Code of Conduct, particularly in relation to building respectful and safe relationships, treating people with dignity and respect, and not tolerating bullying, harassment and discrimination.
- The NSW Anti-Discrimination Act (1977) along with the Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act (1975) make racial discrimination and vilification illegal in NSW.
- Closing the Gap is underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. It also recognises that structural change in the way governments work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is needed to close the gap.
- Policy contact
- Leader, Aboriginal Education Strategy, Aboriginal Outcomes and Partnerships
aopcorrespondence@det.nsw.edu.au
02 7814 2797
- Leader, Aboriginal Education Strategy, Aboriginal Outcomes and Partnerships
- Monitoring the policy
- The Executive Director, Aboriginal Outcomes and Partnerships monitors the implementation of this policy, regularly reviews its contents to ensure relevance and accuracy, and updates it as needed.