During the last few weeks The Telstra Mindset Tours to Mt Isa and Townsville have been a great success.
Fred Cobbo and Merv Wilkinson made the trek north–west to the "Isa". What a great community there is with great work occurring there at Spinifex. We also met teachers from "the Curry" and hope to get there to Cloncurry soon.
In Townsville, we had a dedicated group of professionals that Townsville can be proud of in terms of their good work in their respective schools.
The IELI team was hosted at Mt Isa by the Spinifex College and in Townsville by Heatley Secondary College. The Townsville Bulletin gave our visit very good media coverage. It is important for positive media to let people know that we cannot accept "second best" education for our kids anymore. We are standing up for the best that teachers and education departments can offer our children. It will lead to their economic stability, jobs and careers. And, we at the Institute are working with leaders across this nation in our various projects to help to make it happen. We have a long way to go - with everyone's help.
One of the most positive things at these schools and with the staff we met is that they are achieving fantastic educational outcomes for our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students now- everyday- in their own schools. They are already doing great things with students. We respect, honour their work and support their initiatives. We at the Institute are merely messengers with news to tell and supporters of all the good work happening in your own places we call "school". You are the experts about your children. We are here to help. Feel free to contact Fred with any news about fantastic results and students in your school. Let us know if you would like us to visit your school community.
We thank the Telstra Foundation for making our visits feasible.
As we travel around and tell about the history and past of the Cherbourg experience when Dr Chris Sarra and his team were running the school 1998-2005 we notice with great satisfaction all the wonderful work going on in schools around the nation. Schools and their community and teachers and Principals have taken the baton of Cherbourg and led from the front and who have achieved to new levels of excellence, energy and expertise. So many Principals and teachers around the country are very hardworking and dedicated to excellence for Indigenous student outcomes. That is so refreshing and exciting to witness. It is quite awe-inspiring for us. But, the work and the journey has just begun. We must maintain the pressure to raise student outcomes in our schools Australia-wide.
Big thanks to both these schools and their hard working staff and community personnel for hosting us.
Check our webpage for up and coming Telstra Mindset Tours.
We could be coming to a town near you. We hope to be visiting Kalgoorlie, Alice Springs, Adelaide, Hobart and many other places this year.
IELI's very first Quality Leaders workshop was run at QUT Kelvin Grove Campus recently.
This workshop identified potential future leaders who one day may become a Principal of a school with a high population of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students.
Coordinator of the workshop, IELI project officer Zona Hussey – Smith reported a high interest in the push to improve educational outcomes for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students by the teachers & principals who took part in the workshop.
IELI worker Fred Cobbo attended a special Dare to Lead awards presentation at Parliament House Canberra during March.
These awards recognise Excellence in Leadership in Indigenous Education.
Big congratulations to all winners of these awards.
Mine host of this event was the Hon. Julie Bishop; Minster for Education, Science & Training (DEST), Dare to Lead's Australian Principals Associations Professional Development Council (APAPDC)
Thanks must go to the Dare to Lead team for the invite to this fantastic award ceremony.
IELI Stronger Smarter Principals Leadership Program set down for 19 th – 23 rd March 2007 has been postponed until 6 th – 11 th May 2007.
Please check webpage or call IELI for more details and registration to this program.
As a new year begins, 2007 looks like a bigger & brighter year for all at the Indigenous Education Leadership Institute.
The Indigenous Education Leadership Institute is already on the move with the opening of our new office based in QUT Caboolture campus.
Institute Director Dr Chris Sarra & Senior Project Officer Dr Mervyn Wilkinson will be relocating there. The Cherbourg office will be managed by Executive Services Officer Michal Purcell with the assistance of Research Officer Fred Cobbo.
During late November 2006 Institute members Dr Mervyn Wilkinson & Fred Cobbo along with Cherbourg Community member Mr Rick Morgan presented at the 4 th National Indigenous Education Conference held at Newcastle.
Already in place for this year is our innovative, authentic and creative flagship course: Stronger Smarter Principals Leadership Program. The Institute has scheduled four of these workshops for this year, with the first being held in March 2007. Please check our webpage for information and registration forms for the March program. Dates can be found on our webpage about the other of our workshops.
At the end of last year the Indigenous Education Leadership Institute launched its sponsorship activities of grass roots projects. Grassroots support by the Institute for Indigenous leaders in our community at Cherbourg is critically important for the Institute.
The projects cover important activities for assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth leaders including; student scholarships, community improvement projects for Cherbourg community groups.
Other communities may also apply. The funds to be dispersed by the Institute for these projects currently total $10,000 a year.
This type of sponsorship within our financial capabilities keeps our link with the Cherbourg community and other communities strong.
Please contact the Institute for more information regarding eligibility criteria and expressions of interest procedures.
The Indigenous Education Leadership Institute held its 2nd residential program for the Stronger Smarter Principals' Program during the week of 23rd– 27th October 2006.
Seventeen participants came from as far a field as Western Australia, Western Cape York, Central Queensland, Toowoomba and the Greater South–East Qld region including two from our own region of Wide Bay. Participants were involved in challenging and dynamic workshops around creating appropriate learning environments and strategies for better outcomes for Indigenous students.
The following people and organisations played an important part in keeping the week flowing smoothly, Indigenous Education Leadership Institute Director Dr Chris Sarra, Fred Cobbo & Dr Mervyn Wilkinson as process facilitator, Zona Hussey-Smith, our on the ground co-ordinator Michal Purcell, Cherbourg Community Para professionals, QUT’s Professor Allan Luke & Dr Gary MacLennan Education Queensland principals Angela Douglas and Iqbal Singh.
Topics covered included Goals and Motivations, Accountability and Community, Pedagogy, Policy and Practices, Cherbourg Community School, and Transforming My Own School. Being change agent leaders was the theme. Sessions were intensive, academically rigours, challenging and highly practice oriented.
Participants were provided with reflection sheets at the end of each day's sessions which served to improve the ensuing presentations and workshops. The principals also completed an evaluation sheet for each session, culminating in an extensive assessment of the week's programs. The results were quite magnificent and show us there is a great need in the area of Indigenous Leadership to school change.
The program had a strong community input organised by Fred Cobbo. Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council, Mayor Ken Bone welcoming participant to the community. Mr Bone also a descendant of the traditional land owners the Wakka Wakka people presented a welcome to country.
One of our lunch time activities included a tour through the new award winning Cherbourg museum “The Ration Shed”. The Ration Shed provided an insight into life on a government reserve living under the Aboriginal protection act. Many thanks must go to the following ladies for hosting us; Mrs Ada Simpson, Mrs Sandra Morgan, Mrs Janet Brown.
The highlight of the week long program would have to be sharing an evening meal with former 60 minutes report Mr Jeff McMullen. Mr McMullen along with Cherbourg Mayor Mr Ken Bone and Community member Mr John Stanley spoke about how important education was to Indigenous children at all levels of education. Mr McMullen was so impressed with the program set up, he stayed on an extra day to meet and greet participants and community people. We thank Jeff, for his great speech, insight into Indigenous issues & the ongoing support of Indigenous Education Leadership Institute.
General Comments from Participants;
Overall a worthwhile experience, targeting/improving Indigenous students out comes is part of our job a HIGHLY IMPORTANT PART!
Anonymous
Too much to say! You all have away of making people do what you want them to do (thinking out side of the box). The strategies were varied & engaging. Presenters and people were fantastic. What more can I say!
Anonymous
Inspirational, motivational & challenging! I’ll be making changes in my own school.
Principal Ipswich
Inspiring program that equips you with the research knowledge and strength to make positive change for the Indigenous students in my own school.
Principal Kimberley region Western Australia
This program should be mandated for all Education Queensland Principals to attend. Just so different, so strong and smart challenges
Anonymous
I believe this will be beneficial for all Principals from around Australia.
Anonymous
The first ever residential program for the Stronger Smarter Principals' Program was successfully conducted over 5 days at the Nurunderi College of TAFE Cherbourg, from Monday 14th to Friday 18th August.
Twelve participants came from Western Australia, New South Wales, Western Cape York, Torres Strait and Birdsville to be involved in challenging and dynamic workshops around creating appropriate learning environments and strategies for better outcomes for Indigenous students.
Dr Chris Sarra along with fellow academic Professor Allan Luke presented a number of topics.
Topics covered included Goals and Motivations, Accountability and Community, Pedagogy, Policy and Practices, Cherbourg Community School, and Transforming My Own School.
Participants were provided with reflection sheets at the end of each day's sessions which served to improve the ensuing presentations and workshops. The principals also completed an evaluation sheet for each session, culminating in an extensive assessment of the week's programs.
The program had a strong community input. This was evident with community elder Joe Button welcoming participating Principals to country and community people being involved with a BBQ under the stars.
Quotes from participants:
"This has been the most unbelievable week. I would like to thank everybody for making this week so.
This has been the best conference that I have ever attended and it was a combination of the people, topics, venue & food that have made it so."
"Sad, it’s all over - the opportunity to learn has just begun."
Principal - Birdsville State School Qld
The course is a journey of one man as he inspired and motivated students, staff and community to become "STRONG & SMART" Involved in the journey were a number of support acts providing theoretical knowledge, leadership skills, Aboriginal history and ownership. All of them important parts of a very complex jigsaw puzzle.
The program is important enough for all Principals of Indigenous students to participate.
Principal - Western Australia
"A great workshop to put a framework / context around confronting Indigenous education issues."
Principal - Torres Strait
"Fantastic learning journey that takes you on a path of self discovery and reconnects you with academic learning and beliefs."
Anonymous
"I will NEVER underestimate the role I play as Principal, but never expect less and demand staff are accountable for improvement and do not make excuses for failure!"
Anonymous
Institute director Dr Chris Sarra has been kept busy over the last month.
Dr Sarra recently attend the official opening of the Quai Branly Museum in Paris France. Dr Sarra chairman of ATSIAB was the guest of French President Jacques Chirac.
Left: The official opening of the Quai Branly Museum in Paris France
Right: Dr Sarra with Indigenous artists Nyakul Dawson and John Mawurndjul
Dr Chris Sarra received an award for national NAIDOC scholar of the year.
Dr Sarra along with his wife Grace attended the national NAIDOC ball in Cairns to receive his award.
Dr Sarra with Vince Ross and Stephen Hagan at this year NAIDOC awards.
Chris Sarra spoke in the Logan region to Logan community participants in a lecture forum and practical seminar sessions about educational teaching and leading strategies for achieving higher outcomes for Indigenous students. This is part of the Telstra sponsored Mindsets Tour of the nation telling the story of how we can change things for Indigenous students and motivating school and community leaders and teachers to take positive action. The next tour venue is Sydney on July 24.
Watch this news space too for our forthcoming Principals Leadership Workshops which will target Principals from all around the country in high intensity leadership work in their contexts for raising the bar for Indigenous outcomes.
The Institute co-sponsored a number of Cherbourg Men to take part in a mentoring program at the Gold Coast. These men, Fred Cobbo, Frank Malone, Ashley Malone and Daniel Cobbo, have benefited from the experience and will, in turn, contribute through their engagement of the community men's group activities.
Stronger Smarter Principals Leadership Program
The program is conducted 4 times a year. 2008 dates are:
Stronger Smarter Principals Leadership Program (pdf 35KB, new window)
Register for the Stronger Smarter Leadership Program (doc 31KB, new window)