Connecting with Indigenous community to improve school readiness
Kuranda District State School (as it was known in 2006) is a semi-rural government primary school in Far North Queensland. Of 220 primary students, 88 identify as Indigenous. In 2007 it amalgamated with the secondary school to become Kuranda District State College.
HOW THE SCHOOL IS SUCCEEDING:
In January 2005 the school reviewed curriculum, attendance and behaviour management data. A range of community consultation meetings were then held to increase understanding of the issues by all stakeholders. The school leadership decided that stronger links with the Indigenous community had to be forged beyond the school fence.A PSPI program called Families As First Teachers (FAFT) was established. This was a direct response to receiving the following feedback from Indigenous families: children find school daunting; some Indigenous families do not value formal schooling; general misunderstanding that education starts at home prior to commencing school; preschool program not valued. Significant Indigenous community members, the school, the Indigenous School's Support Unit and DEST determined together that there should be an educational program taken out into the community to skill parents in teaching small children. FAFT was piloted, showed signs of succeeding, and was awarded further funding. After winning a Regional Showcase Award for excellence in early childhood education, the team was invited to present at a conference in Canberra.
PROGRAM:
Families as First Teachers endeavours to link those things which work at school with Indigenous parenting/learning styles. It acknowledges that some families are unwilling or unable to attend the school, so weekly workshops are held in the homes of Indigenous families. A team of two Indigenous community workers, one teacher and one retired volunteer teacher travels to houses in the outlying communities. Every second week a different Kuranda DSS teacher also attends. Links have also been made with Community Health workers, with some visits coincident. Family participation in the workshops is supported by the local CDEP office. A range of activities occur at the FAFT community workshops including: making learning resources; photo books of families interacting in the workshops; finger painting; play with educational toys; distribution of reading materials in different forms; explicit links between what children hear at school and what it means. 
The 'mutual learning' approach of FAFT values: the existing cultural capital and literacy practices of the Indigenous families; explicit use of intergenerational social and learning structures; home-school partnerships which improve learning outcomes. The team has observed an increase in family literacy, parenting and numeracy skills; an increase in trust between families, teachers and students; better home-school links; improved understanding of pre-literacy and pre-numeracy strategies.Over 100 community members have attended the workshops. These workshops are held in five different community areas. Qualitative and quantitative data are regularly harvested and analysed. OUTCOMES:
Increased number of family members attending workshops.
74% reduction in Indigenous students' negative behaviour incidents 2004-2006.
337% increase in Indigenous students' positive behaviour referrals 2004-2006.
In 2005, 15 Indigenous families had to be reminded in week 2 that school had started; in 2006 the number was three Indigenous families.
Prep/Year 1 attendance: Prior to program - 50%; since program commenced - 85%
COMMUNITY COMMENT:
"Our communities like having the FAFT program as it shows families what they can do to help their kids before they start school. That will make it easier when they go to grade 1. We enjoy getting together and learning about the kinds of things our kids will do when they go to school. Some kids are frightened about school and FAFT helps them feel good about going. They get to know the teachers and so do we. We love this program so much." - Martha Brim, parent
PRINCIPAL: Chris Capra
CONTACT: 07 4085 5344 or www.kurandass.qld.edu.au FOOTNOTE: This project also won a $20,000 Education Queensland Showcase Award for Excellence in the Early Phase of Learning in 2007.  | 
