Relationships & Partnerships

The establishment of genuine and effective relationships based on mutual respect and trust between teachers, students, their families and communities is central to high-quality education for all students.

Educational research indicates that schools which develop and foster positive partnerships with families and the wider community provide greater opportunities to improve the educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Importantly, the research also shows that school and community partnerships broaden the range of perspectives, values and cultural diversity available to students, supporting learning that is more connected to the real world.

Visit Reconciliation Australia’s ‘Share our Pride’ website for ideas on establishing successful relationships and partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The site includes helpful information, strategies and links to resources.

Where’s the Science in this? - The problem with attempting to isolate aspects of Indigenous practice and thinking as examples of 'Indigenous Science' is an insightful article by Pip Deveson, developed in conjunction with the Australian Research Council. It explores the relationship between the Indigenous community and educators in creating contextualised, relevant and hands-on Indigenous science learning experiences for students in North East Arnhem Land. The paper delves into the Galtha workshop about constructing a traditional fishtrap and discusses the various contributions of and partnerships with Indigenous elders, school principals and teachers. The paper highlights Indigenous perspectives of science ‘as a whole system’, connecting different aspects of Indigenous culture and tradition including peoples, land, technology and rituals. You can access the article here (PDF).