Chief Executive, David TemplemanNational Strategies – Engagement and Success

in Teacher Education #OurMobTeach 2015

Increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers is about:

Social Justice

Social Change

Social Inclusion

Patton. W; Hong. A.L et al. 2012. Report into the Retention and Graduation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students Enrolled in Initial Teacher Education. MATSITI

internet access

long-term unemployment

post-schooling qualifications

readiness for schooling

young adults not engaged

unskilled workers

rent assistance

overall education

low family income

housing stress

Web of Disadvantageunemployment

disability support

Year 3 literacy and numeracy

prison admissionsdomestic violencepsychiatric admissions

child maltreatment

chronic health issues

juvenile convictions

Year 9 literacy and numeracy

criminal convictions

post-schooling qualifications

readiness forschooling

young adults not engaged

overall education

Web of DisadvantageYear 9 literacy

Year 3 literacy and numeracy

and numeracy

2015. Vinson, T. et al. Dropping off the Edge Report

INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY MACRO

EDUCATION

'It is difficult to deny the centrality of limited education and its impact on …making and

sustaining of disadvantage in Australia'Professor Tony Vinson,

Dropping Off the Edge Report 2007

'Success does not end at the transition of one student, but rather, the changing of

patterns of opportunity as more Indigenous students transition successfully'

Henderson-Yates, L; Dodson, P, Maher, M et al. 2014.The Transition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students

into Higher Education Report.

The sum of more than its parts

The straight and narrow

More circuitous routes

Between 2007 and 2012, more than two out of every three (68.2%) Aboriginal

and Torres Strait Islander students left their initial teacher education course.

Walking Points

Patton. W; Hong. A.L et al. 2012. Report into the Retention and Graduation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students Enrolled in Initial Teacher Education.

More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Initiative.

During the first year of study

When assessment is due

Before and afterprofessional experience (practicum)

Financial hardship Cultural safetyAcademic skills stumbling block– Academic language

(an unfamiliar discipline)

– Language (as used in curriculum or pedagogy),

– The level of English literacy and numeracy required in course work

– ESL (with some students speaking English as a third or fourth language)

– Tertiary level skills like essay writing and referencing

Other Barriers

Contributers to Success

Supporting students through enrolment Providing smooth transition into university lifeSupporting students culturally, social, academically and with financial assistance when requiredFlexibility in course progression Professional development and awareness raising of non-Indigenous staff and faculty

Attrition

Indigenous higher education enrolments across Australia grew 52% since 2003

But no change in proportion as

overall student population increased

Anderson, Ian. Oct 24 2014. Indigenous students neglected in the higher education policy debate. The Conversation.

Attrition

'A significant proportion eventually make it to the end of their degree, but too many do not.

The social harms of exiting higher education without completion are significant'

Professor Ian Anderson, Melbourne University

TEMAG IMPLEMENTATION PRIORITIES

Student selection DataImpact on student learning Practical experience Literacy and numeracy test

Teacher Education Media StoriesDec 2014 – June 2015

THEC R IS IS

M O D E L

FO CUSES O N PRO BLEM S IN STEAD O F SO LUTIO N S

We need more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, remote,rural

and STEM teachers

But teacher education student applications have been falling

What? You don't want to join us?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teacher education students selected

by ATAR alone

one in five

One Aborginal and Torres Strait Islander teacher for every four

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

Attrition and Retention

Higher education course completion:Indigenous students 47%Non-Indigenous students 74%

Lowest Completion rates:Older Indigenous students from low-

SES backgrounds who are studying part-time

Edwards & McMillan Australian. August 2015.Completing university in a growing sector: Is

equity an issue? Council for Educational Research

Austr a lian Counc il of Deans of Education