Extra Support for Koorie Students
A total of $30.8 million has been allocated to improve the outcomes of Koorie students at schools across Victoria through the implementation of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development’s new strategy, Wannik, Learning Together – Journey to Our Future.
The Brumby government is determined to close the gap between Koorie and non-Koorie students in Victoria by improving literacy, numeracy and retention rates to stop Koorie students from falling behind.
This major investment will be used to implement the recently announced education strategy for Koorie Students, Wannik: Learning Together – Journey to our Future.
Fundamental to Wannik is a new culture of high expectations for Koorie students and systemic improvement across government schools, underpinned by new accountability at the school, region and system level.
A renewed focus on parental engagement will be critical to the success of Wannik along with a culturally inclusive curriculum that respects, recognises and celebrates cultural identity.
Specific initiatives will provide intensive literacy and numeracy support for students achieving below expected levels, additional support and incentives for high-achieving students to provide encouragement to excel, and programs to improve retention and engagement and ultimately school completion.
As part of the strategy, more Koorie Support Workers will be employed in schools, and the roles and responsibilities of the workforce will be redesigned to ensure high level support for individual Koorie students and their families.
$25.3 million will support:
• the expansion and redesign of the Koorie Support Workforce;
• literacy and numeracy programs directed at individual students;
• professional development for teachers and principals and;
• other initiatives outlined in Wannik.
A further $5.5 million will provide for an additional 15 literacy specialists to support teachers in schools with high numbers of Koorie students enrolled. This will complement the existing literacy specialists initiative.
Download "Extra Support for Koorie Students" Fact Sheet (PDF - 74Kb)
More information
Victorian State Budget 2008-2009
Victorian State Budget website (http://www.budget.vic.gov.au)