Building education, training and partnerships for ‘success’ with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are under-represented in education and training. Access, bridging, enabling or degree courses and training programs seek to address this under-representation and while it is generally accepted that they are important strategies in Indigenous increasing participation, there is little evidence on the success of such programs. This presentation presents the results of a research project undertaken at three dual-sector universities which focused on Indigenous learning journeys. It will also highlight interpretations of ‘success’ from the perspectives of students and teachers participating in courses. Moreover, it will discuss issues and concepts relevant to building partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In developing rural education pathways, Indigenous pathways also need to be developed for Indigenous Australia is also embedded in rural Australia.