When we asked our Leadership Program alumni about building better relationships with their local communities, they told us not to underestimate the power of a cup of tea. While there is no set formula or process, our alumni tell us that what is important is taking the time to question, listen and learn. Starting the conversation Building relationships is as … Read More

Rodney Groves is the Assistant Principal at Morisset Public School across the road from where he attended High School. His background is Kamilaroi. However, his family have lived on Awabakal land for five generations, and he has close ties in the local Hunter area. Rodney has been on the executive committee of the local Itji-Marru AECG in various roles for … Read More

Results from the 2020 Stronger Smarter Census A common theme from respondents in our 2020 Stronger Smarter Census is that after attending the Stronger Smarter Leadership Program (SSLP) they became better listeners.  Alumni tell us they become more patient, they slow down the conversation, are more curious, have less need to talk or give their opinion, and can ‘be still … Read More

Student engagement is one of the three areas for strategic action in the eighth Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage (OID) report released in 2020.  A key aspect of engagement is students’ sense of belonging in the classroom.    The OID report describes how this is particularly important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Data from the 2015 PISA survey shows that Aboriginal … Read More

The Indigenous Knowledges (IK) in Mathematics project is a collaboration between Indigenous communities, the Stronger Smarter Institute and Education Services Australia. This project aims to create resources to guide teachers and other school staff in their understanding of how they can incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Histories and Cultures into the core curriculum of mathematics. Resources being developed … Read More

Cath Jeffery is a Head Teacher at Inverell State High School, and also works for one day a week with the Stronger Smarter Institute. We talked to her about the very successful Aboriginal Studies class that she started in 2006 with just 6 students. The class has now grown to be one of the most popular at Inverell, with 24 … Read More

Traditionally, ‘community engagement’ has been thought of as an activity that is controlled by the school to gain feedback – often on decisions that have already been made.  The Stronger Smarter Approach is a fundamental rethinking of community engagement towards a dynamic vision of community empowerment.   This moves from ‘engagement’ as an activity to solve problems or ‘modify the out … Read More

High expectations for all students is widely recognised as an essential element in improving Indigenous education outcomes. The importance of educators’ recognising that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can achieve as well as any other student is nothing new. What is not always recognised, however, is that for an Indigenous student, being smart at school doesn’t have to mean … Read More

As we have developed our Stronger Smarter Approach framework, one of the questions we asked ourselves is ‘When does the Stronger Smarter Approach work best?’   At the Institute, we love data.  We love to know what our participants find useful about our programs and what they do in their schools after they leave a program.  The data we’ve collected over … Read More

“So will you be remembered as a deadly teacher, the one who said, ‘I reckon you can do this?’  Well you get to make that choice.  This is the power and the magic of our profession as teachers.”  In his 2012 Keynote address at a MATSITI conference, Dr Chris Sarra asked, “How will you be remembered as a teacher?”  Dr … Read More