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Initiatives targeting Recommendation 21Northern TerritoryAboriginal and Islander Tertiary Aspiration Program (AITAP) - (Proposed Initiative Name) The Aboriginal and Islander Tertiary Aspiration Program (AITAP) is a school and community based support program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who hope to complete Year 12 studies and enter higher education courses. It encourages, supports and assists them during their secondary school years to improve their academic attainment and achieve their career aspirations. Target group: Indigenous students in urban secondary schools Coverage: Urban secondary schools in the NT Timeframe: 2001 - 2004 Responsible agency: Department of Employment, Education and Training Website: www.education.nt.gov.au Partnerships and Communications The Partnership initiative focuses on strategies to engage schools and communities in the implementation of the Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET) Indigenous Education Strategic Plan, Element 6 - Indigenous parents and communities share responsibility with government for educational outcomes. Within this program the Partnerships and Communications Unit is responsible for providing feedback to parents, Indigenous communities, other government departments and DEET. Feedback could include promoting best practice models, encouraging student attendance and fostering community involvement in decision making. This initiative endeavours to engage Indigenous people in the development and implementation of strategies to improve employment, education and training opportunities. Target group: Whole Community Coverage: Territory wide Timeframe: 2002 - 2004 Responsible agency: Department Employment, Education and Training Website: www.education.nt.gov.au Learning Centres in Alice Springs Five learning centres have been established in Alice Springs to provide educational opportunities for students who have disengaged or are at risk of disengaging with mainstream schooling. These learning centres provide a more flexible organisational and social culture to that of mainstream schooling and are located where young people feel comfortable about learning. Each learning centre is an outpost of a government school and provides access to mainstream educational outcomes but in an alternative setting. The focus of these programs is to 'detour' young people 'at risk' back into mainstream programs or into employment. While the focus of the program is on achieving educational outcomes there is a recognition that the basic needs of young people must be met to enable them to focus on learning. Therefore there is a strong social and life skills development focus which is generally achieved through partnerships or linking with other agencies. Target group: Young people in Alice Springs who have left school early or are at risk of leaving school early. Coverage: Alice Springs Timeframe: Ongoing Responsible agency: Department of Employment, Education and Training. Website: www.education.nt.gov.au AITAP Extension Extension of The Aboriginal and Islander Tertiary Aspiration Program (AITAP) to include Indigenous secondary students attending remote community schools and Indigenous students in urban secondary schools aged 12 years and upwards. The program will focus on student progression to tertiary education and employment; transition from primary to secondary schooling; retention of students through to Year 12; personal development for 'at risk' Indigenous students such as building sound study skills. Target group: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students Coverage: Urban high schools and remote community schools Timeframe: 2002 - 2004 Responsible agency: Department of Employment, Education and Training Website: www.education.nt.gov.au 1. Local Education Advisory Boards (LEABS) LEABs will be established in communities to support the full engagement of Indigenous people in improving educational outcomes of Indigenous students in the Northern Territory. Four pilot communities will be selected in 2002. The aim of the pilots will be to establish educational advisory boards with appropriate community leadership. The pilots could be established in community schools or cluster schools within linguistically and culturally affiliated regions. LEAB's, with departmental support, will develop community education plans to aid in the implementation of the Department of Employment, Education and Training Indigenous Education 5-Year Strategic Plan, NIELNS and IESIP Agreements. 2. Self Managed Schools Provision to be made for community control over education decision-making processes, while establishing clear benchmarks for expected improvements. It is envisioned that the Local Education Advisory Board will be the management group for a self managed school. This initiative seeks to achieve:
3. Ongoing partnership development Partnerships will foster collaboration from all stakeholders in achieving common goals in education. They will seek to improve Indigenous student outcomes through:
Target group: Whole Community Coverage: Territory Wide Timeframe: 2002 - 2004 Responsible agency: Department Employment, Education and Training. Website: www.education.nt.gov.au |
