Friday 9 August 2002

In response to the release of the 'What Works' professional development package for teachers of Indigenous students, by the Federal Minister for Education, Dr. Brendan Nelson, yesterday, the AEU's Federal Aboriginal Education Officer, Darcel Moyle, said, "The research conducted for the basis of the 'What Works' professional development package shows that many teachers are working effectively to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. However, it is still clear that Governments need to do more to ensure that this type of professional development program is adequately funded, and that pre-service teachers have access to Indigenous studies as a core component of their undergraduate degree program."

"The package is a step in the right direction," said Ms Moyle, "but all Governments need to take urgent and immediate action to ensure that all undergraduate teachers receive adequate training in this area. As teacher employer bodies, State and Territory Governments also have a major role to play, by prescribing Indigenous studies as a minimum requirement for the employment of teachers."

The Union is currently working with Indigenous educators to develop a plan to roll-out the development and delivery of Indigenous studies in to teacher education programs nationally. Once the plan is developed, it will be discussed with Ministers for Education, and with Universities.

"The Union's position is that until there are core components of Indigenous studies in all education degree programs across Australia, the system is not adequately preparing teachers to work with Indigenous students. The 'What Works' package is essentially for existing teachers," Moyle said, "but it could be used as a resource for undergraduate teachers, and assist to support and inform the development of a suite of undergraduate subjects. There needs to be a greater effort from all Governments in working with Universities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to progress this essential process."