Equality or Equity? : Education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Futures
Abstract
The Hon. John Dawkins (then) Minister for Employment, Education and Training, launched theAboriginal Education Policy at a grand event in the Committee Room at Parliament House on 26th October 1989. The Prime Minister blessed the occasion with his presence and a short speech. Three of the former Chairs of the the National Aboriginal Education Committee were there, as were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educationists from most Australian states. Only New South Wales, which decided to boycott the launch, wasn’t officially represented.
There are two reasons for calling the policy that the Minister launched theAboriginal Education Policy. Firstly, because it is the first policy formally endorsed by any National government; and secondly, because it responds to the call made in the 1988 Report of the Aboriginal Education Policy Task Force, for a concerted national effort –
to achieve broad equity between Aboriginal people and other Australians in access, participation and outcomes at all stages of education. (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy, 1989: 1.2.6 – Draft).
References
Australia. Department of Employment, Education and Training, 1988: Report of the Aboriginal Education Policy Task Force. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
Australia: House of Representatives Select Committee on Aboriginal Education, 1985: Aboriginal Education: Report. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
Australian: InFo International, 1988: Pedagogy in Aboriginal and Islander Education: Review of Research & Practice 1978–1988. Canberra: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Pedagogy Project.
Commonwealth: Schools Commission and National Aboriginal Education Committee, 1984: Funding Priorities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education: First Report of the Working Party on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education. Canberra: Commonwealth Schools Commission.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy, 1989. Implementation. Canberra: Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education and Training.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy, 1989. Joint Policy Statement: Draft. Canberra: Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education and Training.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy, 1989. Summary. Canberra: Commonwealth Department of Employment, Education and Training.
National Aboriginal Education Committee, 1985. Philosophy, Aims and Policy Guidelines for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
Policy. Draft, 1989: (See NATIONAL Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy, 1989. Joint Policy Statement: Draft).
Watts B.H., 1982: Aboriginal Futures: A Review of Research and Developments and Related Policies in the Education of Aborigines. A Summary. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service. (ERDC Report No. 33).
Willmot E., 1988: ‘ Times have changed in ACT Schools, and will go on changing’. The Canberra Times, Feb. 8.
