A new report has called for stronger policies for Indigenous education, outlining a comprehensive blueprint for advancing reconciliation in Australia’s schools.
The ‘Reconciliation and Education: Past-Present-Future Forum Summary Report’, released by Reconciliation Australia this week, highlights the key challenges, opportunities, and recommendations for embedding reconciliation in the education sector.
In November 2023, a major forum brought together key education leaders and stakeholders from every state and territory in the teaching of First Nations histories and cultures with the aim of finding out how to drive a stronger future of reconciliation both in and through education.
Forum facilitator and inaugural CEO of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Corporation, Mx Sharon Davis, said the forum showed the vital role of education in supporting reconciliation in schools after the Voice Referendum.
“Coming so soon after the referendum, there was a strong sense of determination and purpose among participants that reconciliation in education is as important as ever,” Davis said.
Both Narragunnawali and Ngarrngga stress the need for the entire education sector to take a collaborative, relational, and coordinated approach to addressing these recommendations to enhance a stronger future for reconciliation and truth-telling both in and through education.
To achieve this, the report recommends acknowledging the history of Indigenous education, strengthening policies with First Nations voices, coordinating sector-wide collaboration for shared goals, and increasing resources to support teachers and schools in advancing reconciliation.
Mx Davis said the 2023 forum showed the vital role of education in supporting reconciliation in schools and pointed to the popularity of Reconciliation Australia’s Narragunnawali program and the University of Melbourne’s Ngarrngga program as “proof of the education sector’s overwhelming support for the report’s conclusions and recommendations.”
Ngarrngga Director, Professor Melitta Hogarth, echoed the important role education plays in achieving reconciliation.
“Education plays a key role in shaping future Australian citizens. It is essential that we act on the recommendations of this report, including ensuring appropriate resources and training for educators via programs such as Ngarrngga and Narragunnawali,” Hogarth said.
“This activity will promote reconciliation and improve relationships between the diverse cultural groups within Australian society.”