First Nations 
OUR GOAL
To give First Nations children access to culturally inclusive education that help them to walk confidently in two worlds.
By 2027, we aim to impact 150,000 children per year.
First Nations children show strong cultural identity through their behaviour, attitudes and wellbeing.
First Nations children improve in reading, maths and science.
First Nations children improve their school attendance rates.
First Nations children show higher levels of engagement in learning and enthusiasm about their future.
THE NEED
First Nations children and young people are among the most vulnerable in the country, disproportionately affected by the collective trauma of the Stolen Generations, disempowerment, and cycles of disadvantage.
First Nations children and young people are:
more than twice as likely to be behind non-Indigenous students in reading, maths and science.
attending school 79% of the timne versus 92% for non-indigenous students.
reported to have a lower sense of belonging, growth mindset and self-efficacy than their peers.
Our work to support First Nations children
4,999
children
624
teachers
40
school communities
Our unique
model drives
our impact
Schools Plus’ model combines three interdependent components that work together to drive change.
Place-based approach
We take a place-based and community led approach to target the unique needs of children within a specific community. We engage a broad range of stakeholders including teachers, health practitioners and families to be active participants in the development and implementation of interventions, because we know it is the community that knows its children best.
Investment to effect change
We support school communities with critical resources that help them to effect change. This includes funding to help access physical and professional resources as well as coaching to enable the project’s successful implementation and evaluation.
Influencing systems change
Some of our larger-scale projects are now playing a key role in influencing systems change at a sector level with some projects incubated by Schools Plus expanding and scaling into mainstream educational programs.
How we give children more opportunities
We partner with schools to give First Nations Australian children access to culturally inclusive education programs and support so they are healthy, resilient and experience positive wellbeing and cultural identity.
Some examples of our work include:
- Teaching core learning subjects through a First Nations lens with on-Country learning
- Cultural preservation programs that build self-worth, identity, and pride
- Building relationships with First Nations families and community members to encourage school attendance
SUPPORT US to help First Nations students
Where we work
Schools Plus works with school communities across all states and territories in Australia. Our work supports children from schools with an ICSEA score (Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage) of less than 1000. We also partner with special needs schools.
STORIES OF IMPACT
Fast tracking English with online learning
Lan, Year 6, has reaped the benefits of Milpera Live – an online English language program that supports children with English as a second language/dialect (EAL/D).
Learn more >
Breaking barriers for multilingual families
For St Peter’s Catholic Primary School (VIC), prolonged periods of Covid lockdown added to their existing challenge of engaging culturally and linguistically diverse families in their children’s learning.
Learn more >
Success for Complex Learners with VFFF and Clarke Road School
Since 2016, we’ve partnered with Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation to help children and their families to engage in learning and thrive in and out of the classroom. With their support, a group of special schools have developed the Passport for Learning – a ground-breaking tool that is now being scaled by the Department of Education. In our latest video, Clarke Road School spoke about the Passport and the impact it’s having on young people and their families.
Learn more >
