Educational Success: A sustainable outcome for all Indigenous students when teachers understand where the learning journey begins.

The statistics for educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students continually reinforce the notion of ‘failure’, of a specific cohort of students who are ‘not coping’, of the majority of teachers at a loss concerning what to do. Overall, it is a picture of doom and gloom, clearly demonstrating that education in this country has failed to live up to its promise for all students. In this presentation, research outcomes will be used to construct a different picture, a paradigm for a better future built on a strong foundation of sustainable education outcomes for the descendants of this nation’s First Peoples. The evidence presented will highlight what can happen when the learning environment is developed, nurtured, maintained and led by teachers who understand and value the importance of their role in providing a range of opportunities that will enable students to evolve into highly motivated, autonomous learners.