Meeting the Needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students and the Needs of a System in Remote Western Australian Communities.

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Title:	Meeting the Needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students and the Needs of a System in Remote Western Australian Communities.
Authors:	Moore, Laura¹ laura.moore2@education.wa.edu.au, Macfarlane, Rachael¹ rachael.macfarlane@education.wa.edu.au, Wakefield, Nigel¹ nigel.wakefield@education.wa.edu.au, Davie, Serena¹ serena.davie@education.wa.edu.au
Source:	Australian & International Journal of Rural Education. Nov2024, Vol. 34 Issue 3, p92-98. 7p.
Subject Terms:	Distance education, School attendance, *School boards, Indigenous Australians, Vision statements, Indigenous children
Abstract:	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students' attendance, retention and engagement in remote schools have been concerns for educators and successive governments. In many communities, students are encouraged to complete secondary education at boarding school, because of seemingly limited educational opportunities in their local communities. The vision of the Western Australian Department of Education's School of Isolated and Distance Education (SIDE) is to provide learning opportunities for students, regardless of their circumstances, through high quality, inclusive and culturally responsive programs. Because vision statements are aspirational and need to be backed with strategies for implementation, SIDE established a Regional Teaching Team in 2024. The purpose of this team is to meet the unique needs of students in the Northern Goldfields and Kimberley regions which have a high representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Providing programs and pathways to meet the needs of Aboriginal students in these remote contexts is not possible without a deep understanding of the context and culture of the local communities, schools, and the students within them. The Regional Teaching Team works with local communities to deliver co-designed culturally responsive education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database:	Education Research Complete

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Abstract:	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students' attendance, retention and engagement in remote schools have been concerns for educators and successive governments. In many communities, students are encouraged to complete secondary education at boarding school, because of seemingly limited educational opportunities in their local communities. The vision of the Western Australian Department of Education's School of Isolated and Distance Education (SIDE) is to provide learning opportunities for students, regardless of their circumstances, through high quality, inclusive and culturally responsive programs. Because vision statements are aspirational and need to be backed with strategies for implementation, SIDE established a Regional Teaching Team in 2024. The purpose of this team is to meet the unique needs of students in the Northern Goldfields and Kimberley regions which have a high representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Providing programs and pathways to meet the needs of Aboriginal students in these remote contexts is not possible without a deep understanding of the context and culture of the local communities, schools, and the students within them. The Regional Teaching Team works with local communities to deliver co-designed culturally responsive education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	18397387
DOI:	10.47381/aijre.v34i3.766