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Koorie Student Satisfaction Survey

This research confirms the need for Government, industry and key stake holders in conjunction with VAEAI to work together to forge the linkages, develop the policies and strategies which will result in a significant increase in the employment opportunities for the Koorie community.

There is an under-representation of Koorie learners in fields of study that have the potential for employment. This highlights the need for the implementation of measures to inform and encourage Koorie participation in education and training that is more closely related to areas of employment growth and employment opportunities.

The range of problems and barriers to full participation for Koorie people however remains embedded in the current education and training system. There are relatively few who gain employment as a direct outcome of their participation in education or training.

There is seemingly little connection between participation in education and training and current work related training needs as well as a substantial gap between the type of training undertaken and the employment outcomes for this sample of Koorie students.

Systemic strategies are needed to improve the quality of the provision of support services and the communication of all course related information, as well as information on employment trends and training needs.

The relevance of education and training to the labour market is an extremely important factor to be considered by students in conjunction with their attraction to the course. Strategies need to be developed to assist in the selection of the most appropriate education and training course and incentives to encourage Koories to train in areas that lead to employment.

It would appear that a long history of poor outcomes at the lower end of the education spectrum, such as at primary and secondary school, is a major contributor to Koorie people undertaking lower level post-school courses. It is essential that in future VAEAI together with Government critically examine the nature of the educational experience of Koorie people in the primary and secondary school years. Indigenous educational disadvantage in primary and secondary schooling, in terms of educational participation and/or achievement, impacts significantly on participation and particularly outcomes in the tertiary sector.

There is evidence that defining success purely by means of post-school completion rates does not provide an adequate or complete picture of the true value of education to Koorie individuals and communities.

If you would like a copy of the Koorie Student Satisfaction Survey, please contact the VAEAI office.

Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Inc.
49 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy 3065
Phone : 03 9416 3833
Fax: 03 9416 3255

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