11 October 2013
The University of South Australia will bring together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers, education students and education workers from across the country in the second More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Teacher Initiative (MATSITI) ‘A Deadly Career!’ Forum.
Following on from a successful forum last July, this year’s two-day event which starts on October 14 will focus on attracting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into the profession, as well as teacher retention and development and technological advances in education.
Forum convenor, UniSA’s Dean of Indigenous Scholarship, Engagement and Research, Professor Peter Buckskin, says Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers are still greatly under-represented in Australian schools.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teachers make up just one per cent of the total teaching workforce in contrast to Indigenous students who make up five per cent of the total student population,” Prof Buckskin says.
“We know that there are many young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who would make excellent teachers, as well as many of our people already working in various roles within schools who would be capable of stepping up to a teaching or school leadership role given the right opportunity.
“The MATSITI ‘A Deadly Career!’ Forum is designed to engage the hearts and minds of our people and supporters to consider teaching as a career of choice – for young people, for adults considering a career change or to further develop their current education career.
“The forum will also capitalise on the opportunities and challenges associated with connectivity and globalisation, with external engagement through webinar and social media channels.”
The forum will feature leading Indigenous educators including Professor Lester-Irabinna Rigney, Dean, Indigenous Education at the University of Adelaide and Dr Chris Sarra, Executive Chairman of the Stronger Smarter Institute, who will host a webinar to reach a wider audience of participants.
It will examine themes such as effective strategies to promote teaching as a career of choice to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students, education employees and community advocates, how to make a successful transition from teacher education to employment, where education jobs in the future will be, and the changing face of education in the digital age.
The Minister for Indigenous Affairs Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion will open the forum, which will be held on October 14 to 15 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Adelaide.
For more information on the MATSITI ‘A Deadly Career’ Forum, click here.
The project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations through the More Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Initiative.
Contact for interview
Professor Peter Buckskin office (08) 8302 9148 mobile 0431 549 580 email Peter.Buckskin@unisa.edu.au
Media Contact
Rachel Broadley office (08) 8302 0965 email rachel.broadley@unisa.edu.au
