Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education ESSAY
Write a carefully constructed and practical essay on the following:
Outline what you believe to be the main issues influencing the education of Indigenous students
including Indigenous student’s relationships with schools and teachers that may inhibit their success at
school (select no more than 1-3 issues to focus your paper, be realistic in your selection for this task).
Reflect on key policy and legislation that impacts on Indigenous education.
Describe ways of embedding Indigenous perspectives within the curriculum and wider school structures
and processes to enhance Indigenous students’ prospects of achieving educational success. Include
very clear examples of specific strategies shown to be effective in improving learning outcomes for
Indigenous students within inclusive schools.
Within the context of your chosen issue/s your essay should make reference to:
Historical perspectives; contemporary Australian Aboriginal issues; the culture of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander people; racism; government policy and the Australian Curriculum perspectives.
As one of the sources for this assessment task you are required to utilise a Professional Development
Package available to schools online. These packages offer some practical insights into issues for
Indigenous students. While we understand that you are not yet teaching in a school, use the workbook
exercises to reflect on the needs of Indigenous students in schools and what you can do to improve your
practice in your future teaching for all students:
What Works – The Work Program – http://www.whatworks.edu.au/ What Works – The
Workbook
http://www.whatworks.edu.au/dbAction.do?cmd=displaySitePage1&subcmd=select&id=399
Case Studies –
http://www.whatworks.edu.au/dbAction.do?cmd=displaySitePage1&subcmd=select&id=34
Work your way through the site before writing this essay. Also review the available downloads on
this site. Your essay should clearly reflect your utilisation of, and learning from a wide range of sources
including the what works site.