Tuesday 9 August 2011

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2011
Tuesday, August 9th
8:30 AM

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

Jonathon Carapetis, Menzies School of Health Research
Sven Silburn, Menzies School of Health Research

8:30 AM - 9:45 AM

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.

10:15 AM

‘Hearing the Country’: Reflexivity as an intimate journey into epistemological liminalities

John Bradley, Monash University

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Concurrent Sessions Block 3

Indigenous Mathematics: Creating an equitable learning environment.

Grace Sarra, Queensland University of Technology

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Concurrent Session Block 3

Reporting against the National Indigenous Reform Agreement: What have we learnt so far?

Kate Connors, COAG Reform Agenda

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Concurrent Session Block 3

An Investigation into the Attendance and Retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Students: Research and theory about what works.

Stephanie Armstrong, ACER
Sarah Buckley, ACER

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

This presentation is based on an Issues paper commissioned by the Closing the Gap Clearinghouse (Purdie & Buckley, 2010). This paper was designed to inform policy makers and service providers in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students’ school attendance and retention. During the presentation, we will highlight issues in analysing school attendance and retention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students; the gap in school attendance and retention and the causes of this gap; and the success or otherwise of the various programs and initiatives designed to reduce the gap. Issues in the quality of the data and research will also be considered. The presentation will incorporate an opportunity for audience members to reflect on and discuss the issues presented.

Conversation with a Keynote

Jonathon Carapetis, Menzies School of Health Research
Sven Silburn, Menzies School of Health Research

10:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Concurrent Session Block 3

11:30 AM

Indigenous Education: Finding face, making space, having place.

Lorna Williams, University of Victoria BC, Canada

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

This keynote presentation uses an Indigenous storytelling methodology to relate the success factors that institutions, policy makers, administrators, teachers and communities can attend to in making changes to support the achievement of Indigenous learners. It draws on what Indigenous students, families and communities themselves have attributed their educational success. The article serves as a witness to their stories.