Reconciliation and Social Justice Library
Reconciliation and Social Justice Library
12. The Minister for Higher Education and Employment Services in co-operation with the relevant state and territory ministers and teacher training institutions ensure that:
· all teachers are adequately prepared by pre-service training to appreciate the special needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. This should include a general background in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, the history of ATSI people and their place in modern Australian society. This preparation should ensure that future teachers are trained to function sensitively and knowledgeably in cross-cultural situations and are aware of the socio linguistic differences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students including these speaking Aboriginal English. (paragraph 5.14)
13. more specialised training is provided to teachers before they are posted to more traditional communities. This should be followed up with in- service training to provide further specialist skills development while working in communities and other remote schools. (paragraph 5.14)
14. teachers in remote community schools where the vernacular is other than English should have prior training in teaching English as a second language. Where teachers with specialist training in English as a second language are not available, departments should develop and implement appropriate in-service training. In-service training is needed for teaching assistants as well. (paragraph 5.14)
15. The Minister for Higher Education and Employment Services in cooperation with the relevant state and territory ministers and tertiary institutions ensure that tertiary institutions provide more suitable programs for students from remote or traditional communities, either through support for students while residing in urban areas or the provision of external studies. (paragraph 5.27)