ACER eNews


Education key to improving Indigenous health and life expectancy Collaboration between education and health systems is necessary to break the cycle of disadvantage for many Indigenous Australians, experts told delegates to the Australian Council for Educational Research annual conference in Darwin on Tuesday 9 August. Professors Jonathan Carapetis and Sven Silburn of the Menzies School of Health Research spoke on the factors influencing educational outcomes for Indigenous students and their implications for planning and practice in the Northern Territory. Speaking ahead of the conference, Professor Carapetis said there was a strong link between health and education. “Increased educational levels are associated with better health, social and economic outcomes across all populations,” Professor Carapetis said. “Improving the current poor levels of school participation and academic achievement of Indigenous children is the most important step towards breaking the inter-generational cycle of poor health and disadvantage of Indigenous Australians,” he said. Professor Silburn agreed, and said that improving education for Indigenous children in their early years would reduce the likelihood of their developing chronic disease as adults, as well as reduce infant mortality rates and increase life expectancy for future generations. “Children’s early education experiences shape their brain growth and the development of the skills they need throughout their lives,” Professor Silburn said. “Better education also contributes to better health through improved income, health literacy and health behaviours, and greater access to health care when needed,” he said. Professor Silburn said that significant long-term investment was needed to support families and communities in strengthening early child development, improving the effectiveness of school education and creating new training pathways into employment. “Education is one of the most effective means presently available to governments for eradicating poverty and advancing societal wellbeing. It is the key to closing the gap within a generation,” Professor Silburn said. The ACER Research Conference 2011, on the theme Indigenous Education: Pathways to success, took place in Darwin from 7 to 9 August. The paper delivered by Professors Carapetis and Silburn at the conference is available from http://research.acer.edu.au/research_conference/RC2011/9august/1 « Back to eNews
Copyright © Australian Council for Educational Research 2013 All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Copyright Act 1968 of Australia and subsequent amendments, no part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without written permission. Please address any requests to reproduce information to communications@acer.edu.au Subscribe Unsubscribe Australian Council for Educational Research Private Bag 55, Camberwell, Victoria Australia 3124 Tel: + 61 3 9277 5555 Fax: + 61 3 9277 5500 Web: www.acer.edu.au

Collaboration between education and health systems is necessary to break the cycle of disadvantage for many Indigenous Australians, experts told delegates to the Australian Council for Educational Research annual conference in Darwin on Tuesday 9 August.

Professors Jonathan Carapetis and Sven Silburn of the Menzies School of Health Research spoke on the factors influencing educational outcomes for Indigenous students and their implications for planning and practice in the Northern Territory.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Professor Carapetis said there was a strong link between health and education.

“Increased educational levels are associated with better health, social and economic outcomes across all populations,” Professor Carapetis said.

“Improving the current poor levels of school participation and academic achievement of Indigenous children is the most important step towards breaking the inter-generational cycle of poor health and disadvantage of Indigenous Australians,” he said.

Professor Silburn agreed, and said that improving education for Indigenous children in their early years would reduce the likelihood of their developing chronic disease as adults, as well as reduce infant mortality rates and increase life expectancy for future generations.

“Children’s early education experiences shape their brain growth and the development of the skills they need throughout their lives,” Professor Silburn said.

“Better education also contributes to better health through improved income, health literacy and health behaviours, and greater access to health care when needed,” he said.

Professor Silburn said that significant long-term investment was needed to support families and communities in strengthening early child development, improving the effectiveness of school education and creating new training pathways into employment.

“Education is one of the most effective means presently available to governments for eradicating poverty and advancing societal wellbeing. It is the key to closing the gap within a generation,” Professor Silburn said.

The ACER Research Conference 2011, on the theme Indigenous Education: Pathways to success, took place in Darwin from 7 to 9 August.

The paper delivered by Professors Carapetis and Silburn at the conference is available from http://research.acer.edu.au/research_conference/RC2011/9august/1

Education key to improving Indigenous health and life expectancy