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Indigenous Student Teachers in Training – School Based Traineeship pilot project

Indigenous high school students will now have the opportunity to undertake preliminary student teacher training via a school based traineeship, under the Indigenous Student Teachers in Training – School Based Traineeship pilot project.

A group of 15-20 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island senior students will commence the Certificate III in Education Support traineeship in 2012, as part of their Higher School Certificate studies. Trainees will be attending a high school in the Illawarra South East Region school region. They will be employed by a Group Training Company, with nominated primary schools as the host employers.

Trainees will be supported and mentored by a dedicated person at their home school, local community groups including local Aboriginal Education Consultative Groups and Aboriginal Education Officers. The Group Training Organisation will appoint an Indigenous Student Teachers in Training project program officer.

State Training Services Illawarra and South East NSW Regional Office and Aboriginal Programs Portfolio will brief employers and participants on their responsibilities and obligations under the traineeships and monitor implementation of the traineeships.

It is hoped that the pilot project will:

• improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student retention and engagement and their level of educational attainment
• provide a stable and predictable pathway to a teaching career for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and one that offers support from teachers, family, community and industry
• provide for improved capacity to create positive change in education systems and schools cultural values.

For more information, refer Commissioners Information Bulletin 515