Objective
This project will identify the ways in which education systems can be redesigned to better suit the needs of parents, communities, businesses and other stakeholders in remote regions by examining demand (what students and the local economy need), supply (what systems should provide), policy issues and alternative delivery models.
Summary
This project starts from the premise that education systems are not delivering on the needs of all people in remote Australia, and particularly remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Researchers aim to understand exactly how remote educational systems operate and then respond to the questions: What do remote communities actually want and need? What do educational systems supply? Do the two match? If not, how can they be encouraged to do so?
The research will test hypotheses from Science of Desert Living theory and use ‘soft-systems’ methodology.
This methodology can be used to postulate, for example, that remote educational systems would be more successful if they were constructed around social networks based on sparseness and high mobility and if they respected social and cultural practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The methodology can emphasise analysis of critical factors, significant trends and causal influences in the context of the wider system. It can also focus on creating ‘user-led’ fields of inquiry through participatory engagement with community and government and produce strategies that build on successful initiatives from national and international contexts.
Outputs
- Education models that identify strategic interventions and strategies to improve the remote education system
Impacts
- Higher retention rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to year 12.
- Higher quality teaching programs which recognise local needs and cultures.
- High retention rates of quality teachers and school principals who see a career in remote education.
Principal Research Leader
John Guenther
email: john.guenther@nintione.com.au
phone: +61 412 125 661
John is Principal Research Leader, Remote Education Systems, and has a particular focus on improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote communities.
He has a strong background in adult learning, social capital and community wellbeing, combined with expertise in data collection systems and tools and analysis.
John's aim is to develop innovative strategies and models that apply to
educational practice and policy in remote Australia.
