Aboriginal Education in the NSW Department of Education and Training
Aboriginal Education Support for Departmental schools
Resources to support Aboriginal Education
Aboriginal Education Policy
The focus of the NSW Department of Education and Training Aboriginal Education Policy (AEP), which was released in 1996, is the delivery of quality teaching and learning programs in schools for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students. The policy is designed to promote educational achievements for Aboriginal Students and to educate all students about Aboriginal Australia.
This policy has three focus areas:
- Aboriginal students
- Aboriginal communities
- All staff, students and schools.
The goals of the AEP are:
- Curriculum, teaching and assessment programs will be challenging and culturally appropriate.
- Schools will have a supportive learning environment.
- Aboriginal communities and the Department of Education and Training will become partners in the whole educational process.
- All Department of Education and Training staff and students will have a knowledge and understanding of and respect for Aboriginal Australia.
The book rap on My girragundj, for example, provides an opportunity for teachers and students, through the involvement of Aboriginal educators, to further enhance their knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal Australia.
The book rap is an initiative that demonstrates a collaborative approach to effectively implementing:
- the Aboriginal Education Policy NSW Department of Education and Training (1996) and
- Securing a Collaborative Partnership into the Future (1999) a partnership agreement between the Department of Education and Training and NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc.
NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc.
The NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Inc (NSW AECG), an Aboriginal community based organisation, is made up of members who are involved in local and regional AECGs throughout NSW. The AECG is the peak advisory body on all aspects of Aboriginal education and training.
The NSW AECG and the Department of Education and Training (DET) have established a consultative framework, which has been mutually beneficial. The consultative framework recognises the importance of the active participation of Aboriginal peoples in discussing curricula activities that all students undertake, in promoting the achievements of Aboriginal students, and in educating all students about Aboriginal Australia.
It is important that Aboriginal languages and Aboriginal cultural experiences are relevant to their communities. My girragundj, for example, is a story of a boy growing up between two worlds in Queensland. To make it culturally relevant to NSW and to demonstrate the diversity of Aboriginal cultures and languages, we have invited Aboriginal Education Assistants (AEAs) from NSW government schools and Aboriginal curriculum officers from NSW state office to share related stories from their respective communities.
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