ROS Koorie Programs

ROS Koorie Programs

STREAM | Indigenous connections & diverse communities: Embracing different perspectives

Details:

1:45 – 3:00 pm
6th of December

Room: 1N-206-207

Karen McCarthy

Helping First Nations students reach their potential is an important step for supporting self-determination for the First Nations people and for Reconciliation in Australia. The 2021 Census data showed that 68% of Indigenous Australians aged 20–24 had attained a Year 12 or equivalent (Certificate III or above). However, this is figure is impacted by the students usual place of residence with regional areas having lower retention rates.

Rubicon Outdoor School is working towards helping keep Indigenous students in school by re-engaging them with their education by delivering a Koorie program to First Nations students. In 2023, we delivered our first program to Indigenous students at a Gippsland school and a Central Victorian school. These have been built upon in 2024 with a new cohort of students. The Koorie program runs for the duration of a year and is delivered within a curriculum framework and provides the school with an assessment of each student.

Throughout the delivery of our program, we have experienced students with unstable home lives, reduced self-esteem and limited engagement with their schooling.
We have adopted a flexible approach to match the students needs so that we can support their reengagement with their schools and created a program that works on building self esteem with the intention for these students to embrace their identity and futures.

Over the course of the presentation we intend to share our approach and the learnings we have experienced.

.