Exceptional leadership is crucial given the extent of change that needs to occur with the realms of Indigenous education. The data throughout Australia states quite clearly that there is indeed a very long way to go, and history tells us just as clearly, that substantial financial injections do not necessarily equate to positive change in this regard.
One thing that is exceptionally clear is that excellent leadership in schools, invariably results in improved educational outcomes for Indigenous children. Sometimes this leadership may be across the whole school and provided by school administrators to ensure that teachers are capable and confident; at other times individual teachers deciding that they can make a difference provide this leadership within classrooms. Regardless of the genesis of such leadership, it always acknowledges the most crucial nexus in education: the teacher-student relationship.
The Institute plays a lead role in ensuring the development and delivery of quality leadership in schools with Indigenous children, so that the teacher-student relationship is furnished by respect, understanding, high expectations, professionalism and commitment.
"We didn't go to Cherbourg and give the children a Strong and Smart, Young, Black and Deadly Aboriginal identity. It existed there all the time. and indeed it exists in every Indigenous child in the country. All we did was believe in it to the extent that we were prepared to do whatever it took to bring it out of them so we could all see and embrace it. Today the whole world can see it, but most importantly they can see it in themselves."