In our last e-Newsletter we reported on the success of the Kuranda District State College’s Families as First Teachers program, which has had a profound impact on engaging Indigenous families in their children’s early learning and preparation for school. I hope to include a report on Indigenous partnerships as a regular feature of our future newsletters.

In the meantime, have a look at this story  Lights of hope flicker bravely amid indigenous gloom by Mike Steketee in The Australian, April 30, 2009:

“That is not to say there is any neglect as far as mainstream education is concerned,” Dodson says. “The kids are hitting the books hard, as well.” He says attendance rates are among the best for a school of its type.

“THERE are lights of inspiration all around the country,” Australian of the Year and Aboriginal academic Mick Dodson says.  He discovered one last week when he visited schools in the Northern Territory with Chief Minister Paul Henderson. At Ngukurr in southeast Arnhem Land he found a community engaged with its school, with parent involvement, an active school council and an emphasis on local culture.

Read the entire article: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25405534-5013457,00.html

The story mentions two Dusseldorp Skills Forum reports on how young Indigenous people are faring. You can access these  at: http://www.dsf.org.au/?catID=151