THE Queensland Catholic schools sector has launched a new policy to help overcome the educational disadvantages of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander students.
The ATSI policy – unveiled at the fourth Queensland Indigenous Catholic Education Conference on the Gold Coast – aims to improve learning outcomes for students and break down educational barriers holding them back.
More than 170 school educators, most of them indigenous, attended the conference, on September 18.
Queensland Catholic Education Commission executive director, Mike Byrne, said every Catholic education authority in the state would now review their procedures to support the new policy goals.
“The statement commits every Catholic education authority in Queensland to develop effective strategies to improve and sustain equitable outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and help them make successful transitions to training, employment and higher education,” he said.
“Every Catholic education authority will honour the cultural and spiritual beliefs, values and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait people and incorporate the spirit of reconciliation in their educational activities.”
Young Australian of the Year, Tania Major, also spoke at the conference on the importance of education for Indigenous people.
The number of indigenous students in Queensland’s Catholic schools has increased by 22.8 per cent in the past five years to 3319 and more than 200 indigenous staff work in the sector.
