• Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs

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12 August 2011The Plan identifies national, systemic and local level action in six priority domains that evidence shows will contribute to improved outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. These priorities and actions will guide effort over the next five years.

Experience has shown that improvements in the educational outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students arise from collaborative action that is responsive to local needs. As a consequence, Ministers have agreed in this Plan to identify a key group of schools called ‘focus schools’, some of which have been identified as sites for specific action under national partnership agreements. By monitoring and taking action in focus schools, Ministers will be assured that the benefits of national reforms are reaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and that resources are used effectively to support the closing the gap targets. Focus schools will begin implementing actions outlined in the Plan during 2011, with all actions established as part of school planning processes by the end of the 2011 academic year.

In implementing the actions in this Plan, government and non-government education providers will follow the six principles for the delivery of programs and services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians agreed under the National Indigenous Reform Agreement:

• Priority principle: Programs and services contribute to closing the gap by meeting targets endorsed by COAG while being appropriate to local community needs.
• Engagement principle: Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents, students and communities is central to the design and delivery of programs and services.
• Sustainability principle: Programs and services are directed and resourced over an adequate period of time to meet COAG targets.
• Access principle: Programs and services are physically and culturally accessible to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people recognising the diversity of urban, regional and remote needs.
• Integration principle: There will be better collaboration between and within governments at all levels and their agencies to effectively coordinate programs and services.
• Accountability principle: Programs and services will have regular and transparent performance monitoring, review and evaluation.