The Seminar is a part of the AEU Annual Federal Conference program and focuses on issues that are relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education in the early childhood, schooling and TAFE sectors.

This year the Seminar was held on the traditional lands of the Gadigal Clan of the Eora Nation in Sydney, and hosted by the New South Wales Teachers' Federation at their spectacular auditorium. Many thanks to the Federation for allowing us to hold the seminar in their venue. Seminar attendees participated in a significant cultural protocol program which included a Smoking Ceremony performed by Uncle Max Eulo and a Welcome to Country performed by Elder Aunty Sylvia Scott.

Once the formalities were completed the business portion of the Seminar Agenda began. This included two keynote speakers who were Dr Kaye Price, Lecturer, School of Education and Community Studies, University of Canberra and Rob Durbridge, AEU Federal Industrial Officer. Dr Price presented a paper on the provision of public education to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in the light of the national education agenda. Rob Durbridge presented a paper on what the future of industrial relations holds and what it means for Indigenous teachers and education workers in a public education setting. Both presentations provided valuable insight for the Yarning Circle sessions.

The respective presentations were consistent with the Seminar theme which was “Our Voices, Our Vision: Our Right to the Future”. This theme was intended to stimulate discussion on improving the capacity of public preschools, schools and TAFE to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and workers. The keynote presentations were explored through two Yarning Circle Sessions which allowed groups to generate insight and forward looking campaign strategies into important AEU campaigns. The Yarning Circle topics were as follows:-

• The National Education Agenda – exploring implications of the proposed National Curriculum, National Reporting and Testing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and a way forward; and
  
• Linking Community and Education – exploring a way forward on the issues of school attendance, Community and Parent Community participation, Indigenous Employment in Schools and associated funding issues.