Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan

3. Education and Training
The level of educational attainment is a critical
indicator of personal wellbeing and lays the
foundations for future social outcomes. Most
Aboriginal people recognise the importance of
a western education to enhance the possibility
of obtaining meaningful employment. Effective
education can also assist in reducing problems such
as unemployment, poor health and crime. However,
western education should not replace, or be to the
detriment of, one’s cultural knowledge and practice,
sense of identity and self esteem. Providing the
options to fi nd the balance of traditional cultural
knowledge and western education is paramount
to the future success of Aboriginal people’s lives,
particularly children and young people, in Northern
Sydney.
The NSW Department of Education and Training
(DET), in conjunction with the NSW Aboriginal
Consultative Committee, has recently undertaken
a comprehensive review of Aboriginal education
(NSW Aboriginal Consultative Committee, 2004). The
review was conducted in response to continuing gaps
in literacy and numeracy outcomes for Aboriginal
students relative to their non-Aboriginal peers. The
terms of reference included current approaches in
the delivery of Aboriginal education, strategies for
improving learning outcomes and an investigation
of the extent to which the principles set out in the
Aboriginal Education Policy (mandatory since 1987)
are implemented.
page 32
A key outcome of the Aboriginal Education Review is
the commitment by DET to targets developed under
the Two Ways Together process that aim to equalise
the educational outcomes for Aboriginal students with
those of non-Aboriginal students within ten years.
Within the Northern Sydney region, two local
Aboriginal Educational Consultative Groups (AECG)
provide advice from the perspective of the Aboriginal
community on a broad range of education and
training issues. These groups are the Guringai Local
Aboriginal Educational Consultative Group and the
Ryde/Hornsby Aboriginal Educational Consultative
Group.
Early Years
The importance of Aboriginal children’s early life
experiences and educational experiences on their
future development, including their ability to attend
and engage in educational programs throughout their
life, was identifi ed by all stakeholders throughout the
Aboriginal Education Review.
The NSW Government has developed an integrated
framework of programs and initiatives to improve the
health and wellbeing of children and young people
and their families and communities including Families
First, Better Futures and the Aboriginal Child, Youth
and Family Strategy, which in its fi rst year is focusing
on developing partnerships between government
agencies and Aboriginal people.
The Aboriginal Child, Youth and Family Strategy
(ACYFS) is currently being implemented within the
Northern Sydney region. There are strong links
between the aims for education in this Social Plan
and the ACYFS which has broad aims or Fields of
Activities to achieve a range of health, well-being
and safety objectives for young people. Objectives
specifi cally in relation to education are:
• Children are well prepared for school
• Older children are literate and numerate
• Well educated young people
(Aboriginal Child Youth and Family Strategy, 2004,
p4)
Northern Sydney Aboriginal Social Plan 2007-2011