post school pathways for indigenous students principals make the difference author ian nebauer
TRANSCRIPT
POST SCHOOL PATHWAYS FOR INDIGENOUS
STUDENTS
Principals Make the Difference
AUTHOR IAN NEBAUER
Acknowledgement of Country
I acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land and pay my
respects to elders past, present and future for they hold the memories,
the traditions, the culture and hopes of Aboriginal Australia
Purpose of the Workshop
Is it our job to transitions Aboriginal student into a career?
What is the current situation?
What does a successful school look like?
Where to from here for my school?
Education the Key?
Geoffrey Robinson was recently asked a HypotheticalIf you were offered a safe seat in the Rudd Government and given the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio –what would you do first?“ Its now or never-never, so my policy would be education, education, education – including educating everyone else about the respect due to the first Australians………..”
THERE IS AN EXPECTATION FOR US TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.
Education the Key?
Dusseldorp Skills Forum & Reconciliation
Australia“There are no easy solutions – but there are constructive actions that can be taken. The key is to make sure that we get both the demand and supply side factors right. Our goal should be to deliver improvements in education and translate them into improvements in employment.” (pg 39)
…and the Federal Government thoughts?
“Closing the Gap”
Life expectancy at birth
Young child mortality
Early childhood education
Reading, writing and numeracy
Year 12 attainment
Employment
Source COAG Targets 2009
What does the acronym DEEWR stand for anyway?
Post School Transition – whose job?
ACTIVITY – WHAT DO YOU THINK?AT YOUR TABLES DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
Is it the school’s responsibility to be moving students into work?
What do you believe is the purpose of education?
What are the post school destinations like for students at your school?
How well is the school curriculum related to job readiness and work related skills? • Should it be? • What are the advantages of designing a work
related curriculum?• What are the disadvantages
INDIGENOUS AND NON-INDIGENOUS POPULATION - 2006
What trends does this graph indicate?
What is the implication for schools?
NATIONAL STATISTICS
ACTIVITYWhat are the trends indicating in vocational courses for both Aboriginal students compared to non Aboriginal students?What are the broader implications of this trend?
What is the current situation?
Statistics show that Indigenous Australians are the most disadvantaged group in all quality of life indicators:
1.Greatly reduced life expectancy
2.Generational unemployment
3.Long term unemployment
4.Substantially lower levels in education
5.Lower income
6.Demanding social issues(source AES– Danny Lester)
SUCCESSFUL LEADERSHIP for Aboriginal students
QUALITY
LEADERSHI
P
TABLE ACTIVITY – “Imagineering”We want All Aboriginal students to
have a positive post school outcome. Imagine what would the perfect school
leader look like?Choose a table recorderList all characteristics on sticky notesCollate the ideas – remove redundant
ideas, clarify meaningFinalise the list – post it on the wall
All participants observe other groups lists and identify any additional ideas
Individuals can record for personal reflection within their own context.
SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLSfor
Aboriginal students
1. Young adult
learning
environment
2. Quality curriculum
3. Parent /Aboriginal
community
partnerships
4. Celebrates
Aboriginality
5. Celebrate success
TABLE ACTIVITY – P3T technique (Langford)
Divide the participants into 5 groups (or 5 tables)
Have 1 large chart page per table and ask them to list the characteristic in the centre and circle it. Write the question what is meant by…quality curriculum
List in “spokes” from the circled question the characteristics -take 5 minutes per question
Pass on the page in a clockwise direction until it has arrived back to its original table.
Read what has been decided by all the audience
Post the page on the wall for reflection.
CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
What does “HIGH EXPECTATIONS” mean? To Students To Staff To Parents
What does it look like especially for Indigenous students? Earn or learn – knowing the student’s potential? Real jobs including part time - work experience Career choice – being able to make a choice Work readiness – students work ethics Cultural awareness – employers / teachers School engagement / attendance
HIGH
EXPECTA
TIONS
Teacher / Student / Parent Understand and deliver adult learning Personalised Learning Plans – post school planning Clear and easy communication Cultural respect – awareness training and its application
School / Business Meeting opportunities – Business chambers, invitations,
sponsorship, work placement Initial conversations - social responsibility charters, past
students, Employment market needs and mutual support Aboriginal corporations support
School / Tertiary Institutions Mentoring support Role models Cadetships Visits
PARTNERSHIP
BUILDS
SUCCESS
CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
RETENTION
EMPLOYMENT
ACADEMIC OUTCOMES
ENGAGEMENT
Case Management P.L.P.’s
GOALS
SUPPORTIVERELATIONSHIPS
EMPLOYER
IDENTITY
INDIVIDUAL
Family& community
Mentors
CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Who will manage the pathways planning program? Advocates Personalities/ skills to develop relationships and
partnerships Resources Clear directions / plans
What level of representation needs to be on the team? Students Parents Community Business
What are the critical management factors? Targets Small successful steps Manageable workload – one meeting per term, defined
actions, using technology
TEAM
MANAG
EMENT
CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
What does this look like when talking about improved post school pathways outcomes for Indigenous students? General discussion Discuss the general characteristic areas - eg
Advocacy Curriculum Support
How do school leaders encourage staff commitment? Discussion – How do you motivate staff? How would get this on the agenda for staff to
embrace? How do you make commitment sustainable?
STAFF
COMM
ITMEN
T
CHALLENGES
SCHOOL OPERATIONS Consistency of delivery – clear expectations/ plans/ resourcing Getting staff on the same page Red tape and thinking outside the square Succession planning Resourcing variations year to year.
SCHOOL / BUSINESS RELATIONS Staffing component – suitable person, time Slow first steps …. sometimes backward steps The initial conversations Red tape
“DARE TO LEAD” – dealing with social pressures, being an advocate
OTHERS?
….SOWHERE TO FROM HERE?
REFLECTION POINTS
ME as a LEADERUse the top section of the Mini checklist toolFrom the list of a quality leader done earlier - rate yourselfWhere are your areas for improvement (2 only)What can I do? – here are few questions…..
• Do I have a view about post-school pathways?• Do I state my view about post-school pathways?• Do I have a preferred picture?• Do we have anything in place?• Do I know the facts?
WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO?Using the rest of Mini checklist tool and the Planning toolIdentify what are we currently doing?What do we need to do? – share with colleaguesIdentify what in your mind is urgent and important.
“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”
Albert Einstein
Leadership ExcellenceThoughts From The Greatest Leaders Of All Times