We know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children will succeed in school when the classroom is a place where they can be proud of their culture, the standards are high, and the curriculum is relevant to their lives. This is the Strong and Smart classroom developed by Dr Chris Sarra at Cherbourg.
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The Stronger Smarter Institute is a First Nations-led organisation and a national leader in transforming educational outcomes for First Nations students. Inspired by the groundbreaking work of our founder and CEO, Dr Chris Sarra, the Institute works alongside schools and communities to support the development of culturally responsive practices that foster positive identities, excellence, and equity.
Grounded in the Stronger Smarter Approach, the Institute equips educators across Australia to lead with cultural integrity, build high-expectations relationships, and challenge deficit thinking. Through professional learning programs, research, and advocacy, we work alongside schools and communities as ‘partners in change’ to create inclusive, empowering school environments where every child feels safe, valued, and capable of success.
In the last two decades, across the country, we’ve seen strong regional learning communities grow as whole school teams come together to drive transformation, building authentic relationships with students, families, and local communities, and establishing quality environments for learning. The Stronger Smarter Institute continues to lead the way in educational reform that honours culture, promotes excellence, and inspires hope.
To empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to thrive through high expectations relationships in schools, classrooms and communities that embrace, celebrate and nurture their cultural identity as part of the pursuit of education excellence.
A future where all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can thrive and be the Strongest, Smartest and most authentic version of themselves; thus enabling Australia to be at its most authentic and vibrant best.
We know the importance of local context and recognise that there is no one path to follow that will work in every school. We frame Stronger Smarter processes as ‘tools’ or ‘gifts’ that alumni can add to their ‘dilly bag’ and apply as needed in their social and cultural contexts.
We value environmental approaches that are grounded in country. We continue to ensure that our programs are grounded in strong local connections. We know that communities already have the tools to address complex challenges, and that sustainability comes from local solutions.
The Stronger Smarter Approach is a community empowerment model where the voices of parents and community are privileged in the decisions about what a ‘great education’ looks like and how to achieve quality outcomes for their children.
Our alumni are our ‘partners in change’. Feedback from our alumni about how the Stronger Smarter Approach supports their work provides us with a valuable data resource to continually refresh and build our programs and our thought leadership. Into the future, we seek to continue to expand our impact, both at the local level in schools and at the regional and national levels of policy influence.
The Stronger Smarter Institute is represented by the soaring wedge-tailed eagle. This honours the contributions made by the Cherbourg community on Wakka-Wakka country and symbolises pride and a strong sense of identity.
The eagle soars high towards a new horizon, creating transformative change in Indigenous education – where we move beyond hope to positive outcomes and great achievements for Indigenous children and our communities.
From the wisdom of our elders, “We are Eagles”, Yorta Yorta leader, Sir Doug Nicholls said in 1937.
