A recent ACER report provides an evidence base for the development of a high quality educational television program aimed primarily at Indigenous children aged from three to six years. The report, by Michele Lonsdale, is based on a review of the literature on the importance of early childhood learning, the nature of Indigenous learning needs, and the role of educational television programs in improving outcomes for children.

The main objectives of the ACER and Australian Children’s Television Foundation (ACTF) initiative are:

• To improve school readiness for Indigenous preschool-aged children;
• To strengthen the sense of connectedness that Indigenous children feel to their culture and to other Indigenous communities;
• To provide families and schools with a resource that will promote learning, and encourage interaction around learning; and
• To improve the cultural understanding of non-Indigenous children in relation to Indigenous culture.

There is extensive research that shows the critical importance of early childhood in children’s learning and development, including for long-term educational outcomes. On a range of educational indicators, there is still a significant gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. Participation rates in early childhood programs, for example, are lower for Indigenous children than for their non-Indigenous peers.

There are several dimensions that are generally recognised as being fundamental to school readiness, regardless of ethnicity, race or culture. These include physical wellbeing and motor development, social and emotional development, approaches to learning, language development, cognition and general knowledge. An additional dimension for Indigenous students is connectedness to community.

Studies show that television is playing a critical role in revitalising Indigenous languages and encouraging a sense of pride among Indigenous viewers in other countries. A targeted television program could assist Indigenous preschool children in Australia with successful transition from home to school, and give them the best possible start to their formal schooling.

The report discusses the benefits of other educational television programs and includes research relating to popular programs such as Sesame Street, Dora the Explorer, Playschool and Pinky Dinky Do.

The proposal to develop a children’s television program targeting Indigenous children comes at a time when there is strong government support for initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes for Indigenous children.

One of the strengths of this initiative is that it is not grounded in a deficit model of Indigenous performance but seeks to build on the cultural knowledge, values and aspirations of Indigenous communities.

The children’s television initiative also offers an opportunity to contribute to existing research on the ways in which a targeted educational program can help improve school readiness for Indigenous children, close the gap on literacy and numeracy, promote learning opportunities for Indigenous families through co-viewing, and enhance the cross-cultural understanding of young children. An evaluation could show the kind of learning that takes place as a result of the program and the long-term impact on Indigenous children of early exposure to a culturally specific television series.

The report, Using television to improve learning opportunities for Indigenous children, is available on the ACER website.

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