Schools across Australia have returned for another year around 14,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students supported to attend school through the Coalition Government’s successful Remote School Attendance Strategy (RSAS).
Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Nigel Scullion, said RSAS has achieved a lot in the last five years since it was established by the Coalition Government in 2014, getting more children to attend school, creating almost 500 remote jobs and bringing a new focus to school attendance.
“The Coalition Government made school attendance a key priority when it was elected in 2013 and RSAS has increased attendance rates in 84 communities in remote parts of the country,” Senator Scullion said.
Over the next three years, we will work with communities to support more Indigenous children to attend school including through a stronger focus on case management with families and communities and an increase in local decision making.
“Labor did not take action on addressing remote school attendance when they were in Government and have not committed to supporting RSAS and the local jobs it provides. This means that the jobs for 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school attendance officers are at risk ahead of the upcoming Federal election.
“The Coalition Government believes that every child, no matter where they live, deserves an education as the foundation to a successful life. We will do everything we can to ensuring families and communities are sending their children to school,” Senator Scullion said.
Member for Grey, Rowan Ramsey, said RSAS is making a real difference in Grey and will now be expanded to the two schools in Ceduna, where local teams support families to find what works best for them to improve attendance and education outcomes.
“Every community in Australia is different. Each has different cultures, strengths, aspirations and needs, as well as different services and infrastructure.
“Through the RSAS, we employ local people as school attendance officers and supervisors to help families take a lead role in their children’s education and deliver local solutions to support students to attend or return to school.
“I am pleased to share that the Coalition Government will invest more than $6.3 million in Grey, expanding to Ceduna for the first time and extending RSAS through to December 2021” Mr Ramsey, said.
The investment in Grey is part of the Government’s $78.4 million commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families living in 84 remote communities across Australia.
The Strategy does not replace state and territory government responsibility for education attendance and performance and will continue to work with schools, communities, families and students, to further improve school attendance and ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students have access to a quality education.
Media Contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 8633 1744