Wednesday, 3 September 2008
Books improve life outcomes for Indigenous Australians
Every effort should be made to improve poor literacy standards and overcome the educational disadvantage faced by Indigenous Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Tom Calma said today on Indigenous Literacy Day.
Welcoming Indigenous Literacy Day and its efforts to raise money for books and other resources in remote Northern Territory communities and north-western New South Wales, Commissioner Calma said access to books was essential in turning back the tide of educational disadvantage.
“Many Indigenous children start school behind the eight ball having had little or no experience with books,” Commissioner Calma said.
“In remote Australia, an assumption that many children simply don’t go to school has created a chronic under-investment in educational infrastructure which we must move swiftly to address.
“While governments are responsible for providing education, there is a role for business and individuals to contribute to the betterment of Indigenous and Australian society. Efforts such as Indigenous Literacy Day should be applauded,” he said.
“Better education means better life opportunities and improved employment chances – all of which increase socio economic status.”
Mr Calma said Indigenous literacy outcomes were directly related to an individual’s access to their own culture, history and languages. To this end, he said we should also be producing books in Indigenous languages for students whose first language was not English.
“Bilingual programs which establish literacy in the child's first language before developing literacy in English are crucial,” he said. “These programs break the pupil's initial learning tasks into two, enabling them to read and write in their first language before beginning to cope with English,” Mr Calma said.
“Books in Indigenous languages also help to revitalise languages where they may be diminishing.
“If we are to educate children to live in two worlds, bilingual programs provide the means by which to bridge the divide.”
Mr Calma said he envisaged a future where Indigenous language and culture in this country was celebrated as the Maori language and culture is celebrated in New Zealand, where local languages are spoken and traditional land owners acknowledged with the opening of Parliament.
“Indigenous students need to see their culture and their people represented through the powerful institutions of this country,” he said.
“Indigenous literacies are as important as English literacy. Our books and our learning resources should reflect the rich diversity of experience and culture that is Indigenous to this nation.”
Media contact: Louise McDermott 0419 258 597
