A Shorten Labor Government will invest an additional $100 million to support Indigenous students to succeed at school, and boost the number of Indigenous teachers.
This is part of Labor’s plan to help close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.
Currently, the gap between outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students is unacceptably high. Indigenous students are still:
- Twice as likely to be developmentally vulnerable in their first year of school.
- Up to two years behind at school.
- Behind non-Indigenous students’ NAPLAN results.
- Less likely to complete Year 12.
This is just not good enough.
Labor will ensure our schools and teachers are equipped with the resources they need to support Indigenous students to succeed at school.
Labor’s Your Child. Our Future plan will make sure that Indigenous students get the targeted support we know makes a difference to their education. Schools and educators will be able to put in place targeted strategies to close the gap, including:
- Early intervention literacy and numeracy programs.
- Breakfast clubs.
- Attendance, parenting and family support programs.
- Targeted professional development and training for teachers.
- One-on-one tutoring and mentoring.
Labor’s Your Child. Our Future will see an additional $96 million go towards improving outcomes for Indigenous students around Australia over school years 2018 and 2019.
In addition, Labor will provide $4.8 million over the forward estimates to fund 100 scholarships per year for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers.
Increasing the number of Indigenous teachers is critical to improving educational outcomes of Indigenous students.
Indigenous teachers are significantly under-represented in schools – while Indigenous students comprise 5 per cent of the total school student population, they only represent approximately 1 per cent of the teaching community.
Labor is committed to efforts to close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage – and education is key.
Mr Turnbull’s decision to dump the Gonski reforms and rip $29 billion out of schools will mean that students who need the most help are not getting the resources and support they need to succeed at school.
Only Labor will put people first – and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with the investment they need to achieve their best.
Funding for the $96 million in targeted support for Indigenous students formed part of Labor’s Your Child. Our Future package announced on 28 January 2016.
Labor’s Indigenous teacher scholarships program is offset from Labor’s announced improvements to the Budget.
For more information on Labor’s plan to support Indigenous students, visit www.laborsplanforeducation.com.au/atsi_students
