There are 79,000 Aboriginal people living in Western Australia. Aboriginal people represent 3.8% of the Western Australian population. Approximately one third of the Western Australian Aboriginal population lives in very remote regions. There are approximately 21,000 Aboriginal students enrolled in public schools across the State, representing just over 8% of all students. In regional Western Australia, the proportion of Aboriginal students is 18%.

While the educational outcomes of Aboriginal people have improved over recent years, the challenge remains to close the gap between the performance of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students. Our aim is to accelerate progress and to strive for excellence. Positive relationships and genuine partnerships between communities and schools form the basis for maximising the attendance, engagement and achievement of Aboriginal students.

Information to Support teaching programs

• Aboriginal Perspectives Across the Curriculum (APAC) Lesson plans, resources and regional information
• Aboriginal Studies Curriculum
• Australian Government Quality Teacher Program (DEEWR)
• Deadly Ways to Learn Resources to support teachers of Aboriginal students whose first language is not Standard Australian English
• Guidelines for Implementing Documented Plans in Public Schools are applicable to most individual planning scenarios across educational settings within the Department of Education and includes examples and templates
• National Aboriginal Early Childhood Project (DET Portal) includes 48 individual learning and teaching programs to support teachers to improve literacy and numeracy skills
• Online Curriculum Services Delivers online tools and services for teachers
• Racism No Way Anti-racism education for Australian schools. NSW Department of Education website
• What Works (DEEWR)

Working Together

• Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer (AIEO) Handbook
• Same Kids Same Goals An online toolkit for principals and AIEOs
• Walk Right In A training resource that aims to increase parent involvement in their children's education and the life of the school