AHISA SUBMISSION

Council of Australian Governments

29 March 2018

Close the Gap Refresh

AHISA’s submission supports the position that it is important to take a strengths-based approach to identifying and bridging the wellbeing and opportunity gaps for Indigenous people and to recognise that Indigenous cultures are integral for thriving communities.

The submission presents evidence from innovative education partnerships between independent schools and Indigenous communities in support of a strengths-based approach to school education for Indigenous students, underlining the importance of language, culture and identity to the achievement and wellbeing of Indigenous students.

AHISA recommends that COAG adopt a new measure of cultural recognition among Close the Gap targets, suggesting that indicators in school education could include:

·         The status of Indigenous language learning as a subject, measured by offerings and student participation

·         Student attitudes to Indigenous cultures as measured by the National Assessment Program for Civics and Citizenship.

Submission to review of Close the Gap targets