Start Date

9-8-2011 8:30 AM

End Date

9-8-2011 9:45 AM

Comments

Keynote address 3

Abstract

This presentation considers the intrinsic link between health and education and the benefits of collaborative research for improving the education and life outcomes of Indigenous children. The Council of Australian Governments’ Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage framework and the Closing the Gap generational strategy have resulted in significant new funding through a range of national partnership agreements to improve Indigenous child health, development and education. The focus of these reforms is consistent with the human development paradigm now advocated by international agencies such as UNICEF, WHO and OECD. They are also informed by recent advances in scientific knowledge regarding the developmental origins of adult health and disease and new understandings of the importance of early life environmental influences on children’s success in school learning and their subsequent opportunities for participation. The implementation of these policy initiatives has highlighted the need for a higher level of collaboration between education, health and other areas of research relevant to development of Indigenous children. It is in this context that the research methodologies derived from population health and evidence-based medicine are proving useful in building the evidence base for Indigenous education. The presentation will discuss the implications of these developments for policy and practice in Indigenous education and conclude with a description of some recent collaborative research supporting the implementation of Indigenous education and other service reforms in the Northern Territory.

COinS
 
Aug 9th, 8:30 AM Aug 9th, 9:45 AM

Key factors influencing educational outcomes for Indigenous students and their implications for planning and practice in the NT.

This presentation considers the intrinsic link between health and education and the benefits of collaborative research for improving the education and life outcomes of Indigenous children. The Council of Australian Governments’ Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage framework and the Closing the Gap generational strategy have resulted in significant new funding through a range of national partnership agreements to improve Indigenous child health, development and education. The focus of these reforms is consistent with the human development paradigm now advocated by international agencies such as UNICEF, WHO and OECD. They are also informed by recent advances in scientific knowledge regarding the developmental origins of adult health and disease and new understandings of the importance of early life environmental influences on children’s success in school learning and their subsequent opportunities for participation. The implementation of these policy initiatives has highlighted the need for a higher level of collaboration between education, health and other areas of research relevant to development of Indigenous children. It is in this context that the research methodologies derived from population health and evidence-based medicine are proving useful in building the evidence base for Indigenous education. The presentation will discuss the implications of these developments for policy and practice in Indigenous education and conclude with a description of some recent collaborative research supporting the implementation of Indigenous education and other service reforms in the Northern Territory.

 

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