TEACHERS TARGET SUCCESS IN INDIGENOUS SCHOOLS

More than 100 Queensland teachers and principals have taken part in a special training program in Cairns this weekend to prepare them to teach in remote Indigenous community schools in 2009.

Member for Cairns Desley Boyle met with the teachers at the conclusion of their induction program today.

"These teachers were among 140 experienced and beginning teachers, including 13 Indigenous teachers, who applied and were selected through the Partners for Success strategy to teach at Queensland’s 39 recognised Indigenous schools," Ms Boyle said.

"They will teach at schools in Cape York and Yarrabah, Woorabinda, and Palm Island.

"Our Government, through Education Queensland, introduced a targeted recruitment and selection strategy in 2001 to improve teacher retention in remote communities.

"The teachers are specially selected to work in these communities and are given specific training to prepare them for the transition to live and work in some of the state’s most remote areas.

"We know that we get better outcomes for our students if we can keep our teachers in these communities for longer.

"I want to congratulate these teachers for their hard work and dedication, and wish them well for the school year ahead."

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the training provided through the Partners for Success strategy focused on high-quality teaching practices, specifically targeted to significantly improve outcomes for Indigenous students.

"It covers the statewide curriculum and outcomes, cross-cultural perspectives, teaching English to Indigenous second language learners, and behaviour management," Mr Welford said.

"The program also covers topics to prepare teachers to work in remote areas including personal resilience and coping with change."

Mr Welford said teacher turnover in remote Indigenous communities had reduced considerably since the introduction of targeted recruitment and selection through Partners for Success in 2001.

"Teachers used to leave communities within 18 months, and sometimes even sooner," he said.

"In 2007-2008 the average time our teachers stayed in Indigenous communities was 3.2 years, which is a full 12 months beyond the required minimum length of service.

"We attribute this dramatic improvement to the rigorous recruitment, selection and induction strategies under Partners for Success."

Partners for Success training was also delivered in Mt Isa this weekend for teachers appointed to schools in the Gulf of Carpentaria including Doomadgee and Normanton, and another group of about 40 teachers appointed to Torres Strait schools will complete the training on Thursday Island next week.

18 January 2009

Jo Crompton

Senior Media Adviser

Office of the Minister for Education, Training and the Arts

3237 1000