Media Centre

Indigenous Education: Pathways to success

Posted on:Friday, 5th August 2011

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release: Friday 5 August 2011

Teachers, policymakers and researchers will gather in Darwin next week to review research about creating and sustaining positive educational outcomes for Indigenous students and debate how lessons learned from this research can be put into practice.

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) annual conference opens on Sunday.

ACER chief executive Professor Geoff Masters says the theme of Research Conference 2011 was chosen to highlight that Indigenous education is an area of high priority in Australia.

“The purpose of this conference is to learn from research about the most effective ways to close the gap in educational outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous students,” Professor Masters said.

“This is a significant challenge, not just for education, but for all of Australia. This conference brings together experts in Indigenous cultures, education, early childhood, health and government policy, with the aim of working together to support Indigenous learning,” he said.

The conference features four keynote addresses and 15 concurrent sessions. Speakers include:

ACER chief executive Professor Geoff Masters
Charles Sturt University’s Foundation Chair of Indigenous Studies, Professor Jeannie Herbert
Dean of Aboriginal Education and Director of the Wilto Yerlo Centre at Adelaide University, Professor Lester-Irabinna Rigney
Menzies School of Health Research director, Professor Jonathon Carapetis, and
COAG Reform Council Senior Adviser, Kate Connors.

Presenters will highlight the conditions, contexts, curriculum, pedagogy and practices that establish pathways to success for Indigenous students.

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

Further information is available from http://research.acer.edu.au/research_conference/RC2011/

****************ENDS*************

Media enquiries: Louise Reynolds, Corporate Publicity and Communications Manager

p: (03) 9277 5582

m: 0419 340 058

e: communications@acer.edu.au

Related links

Research Conference 2011 website

You might also like to read:

Quantifying the return on investment of workplace training

Improving our understanding of learning

Australian students rate their university experience positively

Time to reform educational assessment

Low SES student enrolment target may be within reach

International study reveals serious adult literacy and numeracy problems

Philanthropic support: a big knowledge gap for schools

« Go back to media releases list