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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Tuesday, 25 May 2004) . . Page.. 2247 ..

(5) Please see part (4).

(6) The department is currently reviewing these policies.

(7) Please see part (6).

(8) The department provides policy and procedures to manage extreme behaviours which result in suspension. The policy also provides a framework for schools to manage student behaviour and introduce strategies to reduce disruption to students’ learning. The department also provides support structures, including the high school student support centres (northside and southside), behaviour management consultants, and other measure to provide and coordinate resource support for specific approaches to student management. ACT government schools utilise a range of resources and strategies to manage student behaviour and to avoid suspension. These strategies include negotiating changes to a student’s curriculum, participation in work experience, anger management counselling and restorative practices.

Education—indigenous outcomes
(Question No 1468)

Mr Pratt asked the Minister for Education, Youth and Family Services, upon notice, on 1 April 2004:

(1) Is the Minister aware of a new report titled the Case for Change – a review of contemporary research on Indigenous education outcomes;

(2) Was the Minister aware of this report before this question was asked;

(3) Does the ACT need to change implemented policy and practice to improve Indigenous educational outcomes;

(4) If so, what is the ACT Government and ACT Department of Education, Youth and Family Services doing to change (a) policy and (b) practice to improve Indigenous educational outcomes for the ACT’s Indigenous students;

(5) If not, how will the Minister and the Department ensure that Indigenous education results improve now and in the future.

Ms Gallagher: The answer to Mr Pratt’s question is:

(1) I am aware of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) report, A Case for Change: a review of contemporary research on Indigenous education outcomes, released on 18 February 2004.

(2) Yes, I was aware that ACER research reports, such as this one, are available on the Council’s website.

(3) The ACT Government is committed to a whole of government approach to addressing the needs of our Indigenous community, including students. I note, that The Case for Change, to which you refer, raises many of the same issues impeding Indigenous education progress that are discussed in the recent Council of Australian Governments’, Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage Key Indicators 2003 Report (Nov 2003). The

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