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Country programs









         Indigenous Governance                                                                                                       Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education


         Good governance is crucial to building and sustaining strong and                                                            This program is helping foster a higher level of knowledge and pride in
         self-determining Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.                                                         Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions.








                                           Within Australia and across the globe,   Progress and achievements                                                         Narragunnawali, from the language    Progress and achievements
            “ There are many different     experience and research shows that   • Nine high-performing Aboriginal and                  “ Historically, educational    of the Ngunnawal people, means    Since the program was officially
             ways of ‘doing’ Indigenous    Indigenous peoples’ ability to be   Torres Strait Islander organizations                     institutions have perpetuated   alive, well-being, coming together    launched in March 2015, almost 5,000
             governance in the Aboriginal   self-determining through exercising   and initiatives were selected                         myths and misinformation      and peace. As a nation, Australia   schools and early learning services
             and Torres Strait Islander    choice and voice is the only long-term   as finalists of the Indigenous                      about Aboriginal and Torres   values the central role of education    and 45,000 individuals have registered
             nations spread across this vast   sustainable solution to addressing   Governance Awards with each                         Strait Islander peoples,      in building a society that is prosperous,   on the Narragunnawali online platform.
             continent – but the common    issues of disadvantage.            finalist demonstrating exceptional                        cultures and contributions.   cohesive and culturally diverse, and   This reflects a real commitment to
             thread is that culture must    Reconciliation Australia’s Indigenous   Indigenous governance and                           Schools and early learning    that recognizes Aboriginal and Torres   progressing positive, comprehensive
             be at the core.”              Governance Program aims to progress   delivering positive and long-lasting                   services engaged in the       Strait Islander cultures as a key part of   change in local educational communities,
                                           reconciliation by recognizing,     change in their communities.                              Narragunnawali program        the nation’s past, present and future.   all the while strengthening the role
                                           supporting and celebrating strong   • An analysis of the 2016 Indigenous                     have a powerful role to       However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait   of reconciliation in education.
                                           Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander   Governance Awards: Strong                            play in fostering positive    Islander perspectives have been left   In 2019:
                                           governance and self-determination.   Governance Supporting Success                           change towards reconciliation   out of classrooms and as a result,   • 17 per cent of all schools and early
                                                                                                                                        in Australia.”
                                           Since 2005, the Indigenous         (the product of collaboration between                                                   generations of Australians have grown   learning services in Australia have
                                           Governance Awards have celebrated   AIGI and Reconciliation Australia)                                                     up with an inadequate understanding   commenced the Reconciliation
                                           outstanding Indigenous governance   shows that despite differences in                                                      of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander   Action Plan (RAP) process;
                                           through strong leadership, good    location, industry and community,                                                       cultures and very limited awareness
                                           management, effective partnerships   applicants shared a number of                                                         of the true histories of Australia.   • a wide range of professional learning
                                                                                                                                                                                                         resources which meet the National
                                           and brave, creative thinking. In 2018,   attributes: governance was healthy;                                               Narragunnawali was developed
                                           the Awards were delivered for the first   culture is the foundation for building                                           to support the 26,000 schools and   Quality Standard and the Australian
                                           time in partnership with the Australian   strong contemporary governance                                                   early learning services within Australia   Professional Standards for Teacher;
                                           Indigenous Governance Institute    arrangements; and organizations                                                         build relationships, strengthen respect   • resources to promote reconciliation
                                           (AIGI). Through the Supporting     are the lifeblood of communities.                                                       and create opportunities in the    and strengthen children and
                                           Self-Determined Governance for    • In addition to delivering Governance                                                   classroom, around the school       students’ knowledge and
                                           Indigenous Development Outcomes    Masterclasses around the country,                                                       and with the community.            understanding of Aboriginal and
                                           project, AIGI is helping improve   AIGI in partnership with the Australian                                                                                    Torres Strait Islander histories,
                                           outcomes for Indigenous people by   Indigenous Leadership Centre, held                                                                                        cultures and contributions the
                                           supporting their economic, social and   a very successful one-day leadership                                                                                  second biennial Narragunnawali
            Mick Dodson                    cultural aspirations and connecting                                                          Karen Mundine                                                    Awards were launched to recognize
            Chair,                         them with world-class governance   and governance symposium, Our                             CEO,                                                             exceptional commitment to
            Indigenous Governance Awards   practice, research, thought leadership   Voice Our Truth – Good Governance                   Reconciliation Australia                                         reconciliation in schools and
                                                                              through Strong Leadership at the
                                           and educational resources.         National Museum of Australia.                                                                                              early learning services.
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