• Chris Sarra

05 October 2009Just getting an Indigenous child inside the school gate does not mean the problem is solved, writes Chris Sarra in The Australian

WHILE THE Family Responsibilities Commission in Queensland may claim it is successful in getting Aboriginal children re-engaged in school, taxpayers have every right to question such claims. In the interest of healthy debate and development of good public policy, there are alternative views I think must be considered. All good business and public policy should be scrutinised within the context of the triple bottom line. Policy must deliver on economic, environmental and social returns to be considered effective. Against this background I suspect the public has reason to be outraged.

The FRC is an independent statutory body that includes representatives from four Cape York communities (Aurukun, Coen, Mossman Gorge and Hope Vale) taking part in four-year welfare reform trials.

From the outset I acknowledge the good intention of this strategy. I like the part of the FRC's design that engages indigenous elders in decision-making relating to school attendance. It is absolutely crucial that Aboriginal children engage positively with school. But I do not share the excitement of some about the attendance results trumpeted this week and, like many, have some questions. It is welcome that in three of the four schools involved in an FRC trial there is some improvement. But, for the dollars spent, they should all be exceptional...

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Chris Sarra is executive director of the Indigenous Education Leadership Institute at Queensland University of Technology.

Photo: Susan Stewart/ iStockphoto