‘We got education needs too’ : Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in urban areas

Limited research highlights the plight of urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations and the issues that impact on their education outcomes. This is despite over 70 % of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia now living in urban or regional urban areas (ABS 2006). The statistics demonstrate that living in urban centres is as much part of reality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as living in a remote discrete community. Using Brisbane as a case study, this paper will explore some of the issues that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students face against a backdrop of the statistics and some of the current literature. It will argue for specific education strategies and programs to meet the needs of urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.