The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC) welcomes the Australian Government’s budget announcement of core funding for the Aboriginal Community-Controlled Education Sector, the First Nations Teacher Strategy and the First Nations Education Policy.
Funding to NATSIEC will provide adequate resources to support NATSIEC’s objective for the coordination of existing Aboriginal Education Consultative Groups and the establishment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Education organisations within all jurisdictions.
NATSIEC Co-Chair Aunty Geraldine Atkinson noted the importance of the funding commitment, along with the need for Government accountability towards Closing the Gap.
“This funding boost will deliver much needed capacity for the community-controlled education sector. With it we also need ongoing Government commitment and action. Otherwise, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities will continue to face the systemic and institutional barriers that perpetuate the ‘Gap’ in education outcomes,”
Aunty Geraldine said.
Aunty Geraldine said that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in all jurisdictions need to have a much greater say in how education programs and services are delivered.
“The Productivity Commission’s Review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap tells us that Governments have yet to effectively work in partnerships with our communities. Governments must play an important role by ensuring shared decision making and transforming the way they work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,”
Aunty Geraldine said.
NATSIEC’s Co-Chair Professor Peter Buckskin also welcomed the commitment of the Government to providing core funding for NATSIEC.
“This announcement marks an important step towards achieving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ long called for commitment to forging genuine partnership and shared decision making for improving education outcomes for our people.
Professor Buckskin said.
“NATSIEC is also pleased to see Government investment in a new First Nations Education Policy and the development of a First Nations Teacher Strategy. We will need to build on the work already undertaken through MATSITI (More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teachers Initiative) to deliver what is needed around a First Nations Workforce.
“There is much unfinished business to achieve genuine equality of education outcomes for our people, so we look forward to working in genuine partnership to develop these initiatives.”
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation (NATSIEC) is made up representatives from the state based Aboriginal Community organisations who are recognised peak bodies for all matters relating to Indigenous Education and Training. Each organisation is referred to as an Aboriginal Education Consultative Group or Indigenous Education Consultative Bodies.
The following organisations are Aboriginal community controlled:
NATSIEC recently incorporated after 13 years of the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group’s coming together to meet and engage in a coordinated effort with the Australian Government.
For further information please contact Joe Cavanagh:
joseph.cavanagh@aecg.nsw.edu.au
0411 951 456
