AISNSW Pilot Project:
Improving Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students

The Improving Outcomes project began in 2016 as a 2-year pilot program. AISNSW invited four schools to identify strategies to improve the academic outcomes of their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students.

Throughout the project, each of the schools has focused on identifying strategies to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes for their students. The key driver has been to develop a strong understanding of each student and their family from a cultural, personal, and wellbeing perspective, along with fostering a culturally inclusive schooling environment.

What has been evident throughout the pilot project is each school’s strong commitment to change – highlighting the importance of identifying culturally inclusive strategies to support their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and understanding that relationships are the foundation to improving literacy and numeracy.

AISNSW engaged the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, University of Technology Sydney, to conduct the external evaluation. This Final Report is the last of three reports covering the period from 1 March 2017 to 31 December 2018.

Rosalyn Thomas

Aboriginal Education Consultant
AISNSW

Rosalyn Thomas is the Aboriginal Education Consultant for AISNSW and provides support schools to enhance the educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and enable teachers to embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and languages across all curriculum areas.

Rosalyn’s role within the Improving Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students Phase 1 project was to guide and support the implementation of the identified strategies for each of the four project schools. Support also included providing professional learning to teaching staff, the identification of school data and embedding organisational change.

Professor Larissa Behrendt

Director of Research 
Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research
University of Technology, Sydney

Prof. Larissa Behrendt is a Eualeyai/Kamillaroi woman. She is the Professor of Law and Director of Research at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology, Sydney. Larissa held a key role in the AISNSW Improving Outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students Phase 1 project as the lead evaluator from 2016 – 2018. During this time, Larissa and the Evaluation Team – Dr Tracy Barber and Ms Marie Graham – worked in partnership with the four project schools, guiding and supporting their journey throughout the two years. As part of the evaluation process, Larissa and her team drew on their knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories to develop an evaluation process that was based on Indigenous evaluation and research methods.

Pilot Project Schools

AISNSW would like to thank the four pilot project schools, who have made this program possible.

Kempsey Adventist School

Pymble Ladies' College

St Joseph's College

St Ignatius' College