Indigenious Education

PSPI

A component of DEST's Whole School Intervention Strategy

Our school operates on inclusive principles and respects cultural diversity as a strength within our school. Approximately 16% of our students are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. We have an active PSPI committee and an Indigenous Education Working Team that are integrally involved in developing our Indigenous Education Strategic Plan as a sub plan of our 2004 - 2006 Driver Primary School Strategic Plan. Our Aboriginal Resource Officer is a 0.5 position funded by DEET to support student attendance, health and academic achievement. We also employ parents as ATAS tutors funded by the Commonwealth. Our Council allocates additional resources to our literacy and numeracy programs thereby supporting students from all cultural backgrounds within our school.

As part of the Whole of School Intervention Strategy, the Parent School Partnerships Initiative (PSPI) focuses on the implementation of creative approaches to improving the educational outcomes of Indigenous school students. It encourages parents of Indigenous students, Indigenous communities and schools to work together in partnerships to address local barriers to education. The PSPI supplements mainstream education services and programmes and may provide a mechanism for capacity building in Indigenous communities to enhance learning outcomes of Indigenous students.

Homework Centres

As part of the Whole of School Intervention Strategy to improve the educational outcomes of Indigenous school students, Homework Centres can provide a supportive environment for Indigenous students to complete their homework and to study. Homework Centres are designed to supplement other school strategies to improve the educational outcomes of Indigenous students. They are usually set up in a school classroom, library or other school building and are supervised by personnel drawn from Indigenous communities and from schools.

On 5 April 2004 the Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP, Minister for Education, Science and Training, announced a record $2.1 billion funding package for Indigenous Education to pre-schools, schools, tertiary education providers and Indigenous students (including through ABSTUDY), over the next four years. One aspect of this is the Whole School Intervention Strategy.

Itas Tutoring

In-Class Tuition is literacy and/or numeracy tuition which is arranged by DEET is targeted to achieving improved literacy and numeracy skills for Indigenous students at key points of schooling. Tutors normally provide tuition in the students' usual classroom, although students may also receive tutorial support outside their classroom.

NAIDOC Week

National Aboriginal Islander Day Of Celebration

NAIDOC week is a celebration of culture. The way of life which brings people together and involves all aspects of life. Including song, dance, food, environment, customs and traditions. Its aim is to bring people together.