Western Australia is guiding the development of policy direction to help young Indigenous learners, in the two years prior to Year 1, become prepared or ready for successful participation and learning at school.
The purpose of the Indigenous early childhood education project is:
The project was established by the MCEETYA Indigenous Education Reference Group in 2007 in response to recommendations contained in the Australian Directions in Indigenous Education 2005-2008.
For WA public schools the framework will provide operational guidance for school leaders, other educators and school communities about establishing a culturally safe learning environment that identifies and responds to the specific learning characteristics of young Aboriginal learners.
Universal Access
An important and successful strategy designed to focus on Aboriginal children is early entry to kindergarten. From the day they turn three, Aboriginal children are eligible to enrol, free of compulsory charges, in culturally inclusive and age-appropriate kindergarten programs provided through 28 metropolitan and regional Aboriginal kindergartens and all remote community schools in the Kimberley, Pilbara, Midwest and Goldfields.
Five key national initiatives provide the context within which educational provision for young indigenous learners is being developed by educators: