An Aboriginal Teacher-Aide in a Large Metropolitan School*

Abstract

I wanted to become a teacher-aide after I heard of an experimental project in a Brisbane school where Aboriginal people were asked to be part of the school and part of the classrooms to help the Aboriginal children attending the school. I applied at three schools in the Inala district because I live in this district, my children go to school here, and my sister-in-law is a teacher-aide at one of the schools in the district.

I thought it would be really great if I could get a job like that. I could be at the school with my two children and work the same hours as them. After I found out that I had got the job at the same school that my children attend, I didn’t have a clue what work I’d be doing. My sister-in-law told me a few things, and after I had been for an interview, I had a better idea. But I still didn’t expect to be working with the children – doing sums and reading.