As you may or may not know, the AEU is putting together a case to lobby governments to establish a long term (we say 25 year intergenerational) plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education.

In reflecting on programs which have been delivered in Aboriginal Education over the last ten years, it is the AEU belief that the evidence is unmistakable – Indigenous Education programs are generally short term in nature and funding, and driven by political cycles, rather than evidence. John McCollow at the AEU Federal Office has been involved in researching this, to develop the 25 Year, Intergenerational Plan.

As part of the meeting discussion took place on the MCEECDYA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan 2010- 2011 implementation phase, specifically in relation to early years and schooling strategies identified in the action plan.(link below) The committee discussed possible nominations for the Arthur Hamilton Award 2011.

Thank you to everyone who participated in our in our 15th March 2011 ATSIEC Teleconference.The key discussion in our recent meeting, March 15th, focused on the Australian Education Union (AEU) Federal Conference decisions (listed below) in Indigenous Education, which focused on the following:

• 1. 25 Year, Intergenerational Place of Action
• 2. Bilingual Education 
• 3. Membership

Committee ATSIEC membership in 2011 comprises of the following:

ATSIEC Committee Membership 2011

• Paul Bridge
• Bevan Paxman
• Lois Neagle
• Freda Ogilvie
• Kayleen Hayward
• Leonie Whyte
• Monique LeLievre
• Colleen Wheelock
• Edith Maher
• Bronwyn Croghan
• Anne Gisborne
• Liz Carbone

ATSIEC Committee Meeting Dates 2011

• Thursday 12th May
• Thursday 8th June
• Thursday 25th August
• Thursday 3rd November

AEU Annual Federal Conference 2011 : Decisions related to Indigenous Education

8.1. That the AEU incorporate the following items of actions into an updated Indigenous Education Action Plan:

25 Year, Intergenerational Plan of Action

8.1.1. That the AEU work collaboratively with other peak bodies to further the cause for a bipartisan approach to a 25 year, intergenerational plan to close the gap in all outcomes, a plan that has Indigenous involvement as its centrepiece. This should include a broad political campaign incorporating lobbying MPs at all levels of government.

8.1.2. That the AEU review the MCEEDCYA 2010-2014 Indigenous Action Plan and analyse it against the principles of the AEU 25 year plan for Indigenous Education.

8.1.3.  That the AEU Branches and Associated Bodies monitor and report to Federal Executive on their state/territories implementation of the National Indigenous Education Plan 2010-2014 and provide analysis of any changes to educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students on an annual basis.

Bilingual Education

8.1.4. That the AEU develop a public education awareness campaign highlighting the success of bilingual education programs in the NT including the development of ‘fact sheets’ and engage the Social Justice Commissioner to work in conjunction with the AEU to implement and protect Indigenous Language Rights in Aboriginal Communities.

8.1.5.  Further investigate and monitor the impact faced in the implementation of Literacy for Both Worlds (NT DET, 2010) policy.

8.1.6.  Campaign to put pressure on all governments and education departments to adhere to all six key principles of the National Indigenous Reform Agreement, namely,

• Priority principle
• Indigenous engagement principle
• Sustainability principle
• Access principle
• Integration principle
• Accountability principle

Membership

8.1.7.  That the AEU working in conjunction with NT Branch undertake the development of a media resource in the form of a DVD. This resource will raise awareness of such issues in the NT that Indigenous educators face in their schools, their work and in their community.

8.1.8.  That the AEU invite two or three Indigenous educators to speak to the resource DVD at an appropriate AEU forum.

8.1.9.  That the AEU investigate in conjunction with Branches and Associated Bodies establishing an Indigenous Recruitment Project Officer for up to one term in each Branch and Associated Body.

8.1.10.  That the AEU facilitate the creation of a National Indigenous Educators network and investigate ways to engage with and to support more of our Indigenous members within all Branches and Associated Bodies.