Domain 2 - Victorian Government Investment and Action

Marrung: Aboriginal Education Plan 2016-2026

Marrung is the key strategy guiding the delivery of the Education State for Koorie Victorians and is underpinned by a commitment to the principle of self-determination. It is a 10-year plan to improve learning and development outcomes for all Koorie Victorians, so that every Koorie learner achieves their potential, succeeds in life, and feels safe and strong in their cultural identity.

The Victorian Government has delivered $138 million since 2016 and is delivering $16.7 million ongoing for the implementation of Marrung.

Early Years Education

Balert Gerrbik: Koorie Families as First Educators

There are nine ACCOs funded to deliver evidence-based parenting support through the Balert Gerrbik: Koorie Families as First Educators (KFFE) initiative.

KFFE supports Koorie families to provide a strong foundation for their children's early learning and development through high-quality, culturally safe, evidence-based parenting support (pre-birth to school age, including the transition to school).

ACCOs in identified areas deliver KFFE by employing and supporting Koorie educators to work with parents/carers to build the capacity of Koorie families to support their children's early learning and development.

Bupup balak wayipungang

Bupup balak wayipungang (previously called the Koorie Preschool Assistant program) is a Victorian Government early childhood initiative that has identified several barriers to kindergarten participation that are specific to Koorie communities and children, including the need for improved inclusion of Koorie children and families, and embedding/ensuring Aboriginal perspectives throughout kindergarten services and programs.

This initiative supports better outcomes for Koorie children from birth to transition to school by:

• supporting Koorie children and families to access and be involved in their local kindergartens
• promoting inclusion and cultural safety in kindergartens
• supporting kindergarten services and programs to include Aboriginal perspectives in their practice and curriculum.

Best Start, Best Life

Victoria’s Best Start, Best Life initiative is transitioning Four-Year-Old Kindergarten to Pre-Prep, providing 30 hours per week of play-based learning for all Victorian four-year-olds by 2032. In 2026, Pre-Prep will be available for all Aboriginal children across the state. Initiatives include funding for ACCOs and Traditional Owners to work with early childhood services to improve cultural safety and inclusion.

Koorie Kids Shine

Koorie Kids Shine (KKS) promotes the benefits of kindergarten for Koorie children and was launched in 2015 to enable a differentiated approach in communicating the benefits of kindergarten for Koorie children in ways that resonate with families and the broader Koorie community. An evaluation of KKS will take place during 2025 to inform the next phase of KKS through community and stakeholder consultation to ensure it continues to remain relevant and support Aboriginal participation in the expanded offering available to all students through Pre-Prep.

Early Years Engagement Program

The Early Years Engagement Program, introduced in 2024 and delivered by the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI), builds on the efforts of existing programs and supports by fostering collaboration between kindergartens and local ACCOs. Facilitators connect ACCOs and Traditional Owner organisations with kindergartens to support cultural inclusivity within each service.

School

Self-determination in Education Campfire Conversations

The Department of Education is working with community to progress reform directions identified through Self-determination in Education Campfire Conversations, funded through the 2021-22 and 2022-23 State Budgets. More than 3,000 people participated in the conversations including more than 1,300 Koorie young people. The consultation and co-design process culminated in the Strengthening Aboriginal Self-determination in Education report, which was released in May 2024. The findings of the report underpin ongoing consultation and co-design with community to develop resources and initiatives that improve outcomes for Koorie learners.

The Victorian Government is investing $51 million in the 2024-25 State Budget to improve outcomes for Koorie students in line with the findings from the Campfire Conversations. This investment includes:

• $31.0 million over 4 years for Registered Aboriginal Parties and ACCOs to increase their capacity to support education outcomes for Koorie students.
• Locally tailored Koorie curriculum resources and provision of support and professional learning for schools, developed alongside community.
• Resources for schools to enhance their cultural safety.

Strengthening Professional Capability of Principals in Koorie Education

The Strengthening Professional Capability of Principals in Koorie Education program (SPPIKE) has been delivered to 676 participants state-wide.

SPPIKE equips school leaders to have challenging conversations, actively engage the school community and promote positive cultural identity and excellence in schools. The program supports school and systems transformation that includes and promotes Koorie culture as a fundamental element of the Victorian education system. It seeks to develop school leaders’ capacity to incorporate traditional knowledge and perspectives into ways of being and use them to enhance all students’ learning experiences. Through this professional development program, school leaders are supported to develop the tools to enhance their leadership capacity, challenge their assumptions, and contribute to the critical mass of leaders, creating a positive climate for change in education.

Koorie Academy of Excellence

The Koorie Academy of Excellence continues to be delivered in four locations across Victoria. It supports Koorie secondary students in remaining engaged in education and offers opportunities to connect with culture, grow their leadership, and pursue their desired tertiary pathway. Its development and implementation are overseen in partnership with the Victorian Koorie community, including VAEAI, the Victorian Government’s principal partner in Koorie education.

Additional literacy and numeracy support

The Department of Education provides both universal programs and targeted supports to improve Koorie education outcomes.

Under Marrung, the Koorie Literacy and Numeracy Program provides additional literacy and numeracy support for all Koorie students in government primary schools, who are assessed as ‘needs additional support’ in NAPLAN Reading and Numeracy.

Additional literacy and numeracy supports are also provided to eligible Koorie students through the Tutor Learning Initiative and ‘Catch-Up’ funding.

Community Understanding and Safety Training

Community Understanding and Safety Training for all Victorian Government schools continues to build the capacity of government school staff to better support Koorie learners, including through developing more culturally inclusive practices. School staff at 1,564 Victorian government school campuses have completed this training.

Anti-racism professional learning program

The Victorian Government is increasing awareness of racism and its impacts in schools through the Anti-racism professional learning program which received $412,750 in 2023-24. The learning program also provides participating school staff access to the Australian Human Rights’ Commission’s Anti-racism eLearn course. To date, over 2,700 participants have enrolled in the eLearn course.

Koorie Education Working Group

A Koorie Education Working Group is supporting the cross-sectoral School Policy and Funding Advisory Council in its priority for Koorie students: collaborate on raising aspirations and achievement for Koorie students, including implementing the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Strategy.

Four sub-working groups have been established to support this work, to focussing on embedding Koorie perspectives in the curriculum, supporting schools in meeting Child Safe Standard 1 (Organisations establish a culturally safe environment in which the diverse and unique identities and experiences of Aboriginal children and young people are respected and valued), improving Koorie school attendance and engagement, and developing the Koorie workforce.

Skills and Employment

First Nation’s Languages

Aboriginal language programs are increasing in demand in Victorian schools and early childhood services. A significant barrier to this growth is the limited number of available Aboriginal community members to teach these programs. New Certificate II and III in Learning an Australian First Nations Language courses were funded under a 2021-22 State Budget investment of more than $2.7 million over four years. Additionally, $2.8 million was allocated as part of the 2022-23 State Budget to deliver a Certificate IV in Teaching an Australian First Nations Language to help increase the number of Aboriginal language teachers in Victorian kindergartens and schools. As a result of a partnership between the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, VAEAI and Swinburne University of Technology, courseware for the following First Nations Language courses have been developed with delivery expected in 2025:

• 10890NAT Certificate II in Learning an Australian First Nation’s Language
• 10891NAT Certificate III in Learning an Australian First Nation’s Language
• 10892NAT Certificate IV Teaching an Australian First Nation’s Language

Aspiring Koorie Teachers Now

Implementation of the Aspiring Koorie Teachers Now, or AKT Now, program commenced in July 2024 as part of the Department of Education’s commitment to support and grow the schools’ workforce. Funded through the 2023-24 State Budget, the program was established to attract and retain new and returning First Nations people into the workforce and to support First Nations candidates to complete qualifications in education whilst undertaking paid employment in schools.

AKT Now will provide training, fixed-term employment and wrap-around supports for up to 160 First Nations participants over the next three years in their choice of pathways for Certificate IV, undergraduate Initial Teacher Education (ITE) studies, or postgraduate ITE studies, for employment in the teaching profession or in education support roles. The Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Limited (VACSAL) has been engaged to work with Holmesglen TAFE to deliver a Certificate IV in School Based Education Support, with the first cohort commencing in early 2025. Learners will be provided with wraparound support from AFL SportsReady and opportunities to connect with other Koorie teachers and education support staff.

The program also actively works to re-engage First Nations teachers (who are not currently teaching) back into the teaching workforce, through financial incentives and other supports.

Actions to strengthen inclusion and cultural safety for existing First Nations staff across the Department of Education are set out in Dhelk Wukang 2022 – 2026. The Department of Education’s Aboriginal Employment Plan 2020 – 2026 is a key action under Dhelk Wukang, and includes strategies designed to make the department an employer of choice for First Nations staff. In particular, and as described in detail in the previous report, the department’s Koorie Staff Network continues to strengthen, with continually increasing numbers of First Nations staff accessing the opportunity to connect, share experiences and access professional development through this forum.

Supporting First Nations Vocational Education and Training Learners and Workforce in Victoria

Wurreker Funding totalling $5.19 million per annum is provided across the TAFE network (including Dual Sector Universities) to support improved vocational education and training (VET) outcomes for First Nations learners. Funding is primarily used to support the employment of Koorie Liaison Officers (KLOs) and Koorie Student Support Officers (KSSOs) within institutions. The KLOs and KSSOs work with TAFEs and dual sector universities to support First Nations VET learners. This includes providing tailored support and mentoring to individual students, guiding community engagement activities, contributing to internal workforce development strategies, and building cultural competency within the broader VET workforce.

The activities of KLOs and KSSOs are guided by a Wurreker Implementation Plan (WIP). Consistent with a self-determined approach, VET institutes develop their WIP in consultation with Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Groups. As the peak body for First Nations education in Victoria, $1.743 million per annum is provided to VAEAI to support the organisation and its Wurreker Brokers to advocate for Aboriginal Victorians in matters related to education across the state and through the Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Groups (LAECGs) in the regions.

Victorian Skills Plan

The Victorian Skills Plan Implementation Update for 2024 was released in December alongside the release of the new Victorian Skills Plan for 2024 into 2025. The update included an overview of progress on Skill Plan Action 14: "Empower self-determination for First Nations peoples", highlighting developments and activities across schools, Learn Locals, and TAFEs as well as a case study featuring the Koorie Student of the Year at the 2024 Victorian Training Awards, Taylor Hampton.

The Ministerial Statement (Statement) on the Future of Adult Community Education in Victoria 2020-2025

The Statement was released by the Minister for Training and Skills in November 2019 and recognises the important place of adult community education in Victoria as part of an integrated post-secondary system and establishes a crucial role for the Adult, Community and Further Education (ACFE) Board to lead adult community education in Victoria. The Statement ensures that adult community education provides a safe and welcoming environment for different cohorts in the community with a focus on ensuring Koorie learners see adult community education organisations as a place for the community to meet, share experiences and learn, as well as fostering harmony with the local non-Koorie population.

Supporting Koorie Self-Determination in Pre-accredited Training project

The Koorie Education in Learn Locals: Best Practice and Protocols was developed by VAEAI in partnership with the ACFE Board as a part of the Self Determination in Learn Local Koorie Education initiative. The objective of this partnership is to increase and retain Koorie participation through supportive and culturally inclusive learning environments and include local Koorie histories, culture and perspectives across the curriculum of each Learn Local provider for the benefit of all students. The Minister for Skills and TAFE co-launched the document with VAEAI in April 2024.

Hard copies of the document and posters have been distributed to all Learn Local providers and e-copies made available for Learn Locals. The Department for Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions is currently engaging with VAEAI on the creation of professional development information sessions for Learn Local providers on implementing the protocols and principles in the Guide, to support self-determination and cultural safety in ACFE/Learn Local training delivery.

The Department for Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions is also working to ensure that the protocols and principles outlined in the Guide underpin the development of other ACFE Board projects.

Koorie professional development literacy and numeracy module for pre-accredited teachers

In 2021-22, the ACFE Board commissioned Adult Learning Australia to work in partnership with VAEAI to design a Koorie professional development module for Learn Local teachers which has since been implemented and made available for Learn Local practitioners.

The Koorie module is a short, focused five-hour online interactive unit providing strategies for teachers to support Koorie learners in the development of literacy and numeracy. The Koorie module is a part of the broader Adult Literacy and Numeracy Professional Practice Program that aims to improve the capability of pre-accredited literacy and numeracy teachers.

The forum discussion spaces or ‘Yarning Circles’ play an important part in connecting participants and encouraging engagement and further learning and reflective practice. This module has been developed, and all resources have been incorporated into the ACFE Board’s Annual Professional Development Plan.

Reconnect

The Reconnect program is intended to improve a person’s chance of breaking the cycle of disadvantage by creating equity, improving access, and increasing choice in pathways through education and employment.

The program includes First Nations participants, providing targeted support to help them overcome barriers to accessing education, training, and employment, and guiding them toward further study or sustainable career pathways. This includes supporting Aboriginal self-determination and collaboration with community organisations, leveraging culturally appropriate resources, and empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Reconnect providers deliver a range of supports, including counselling, mentoring, and housing and accommodation services. Each year, the program is funded to assist over 1,700 participants by offering wrap-around supports and interventions to address non-vocational barriers that may hinder their ability to achieve their full potential.

Skills First Aboriginal Access Fee Waiver

In November 2023, the Minister for Skills and TAFE approved a new tuition fee waiver for First Nations learners, the Skills First Aboriginal Access fee waiver. Under this initiative, tuition fees are not charged to Skills First students who self-identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. From 1 January 2024, the new fee waiver replaced the Indigenous Completions Initiative concession. The fee waiver seeks to deliver on actions committed to under Marrung to improve the inclusivity of learning environments, lift outcomes for First Nations learners in VET and enhance Aboriginal self-determination in post-secondary and vocational education. As of September 2024, 1,940 First Peoples had accessed the fee waiver representing a 9 per cent increase in First Nations learners enrolled in VET courses.

Koorie Loading for pre-accredited training

A 50 per cent Koorie loading of the student hour rate for ACFE Board funded pre-accredited training was introduced in February 2021 and continued in 2024. The loading aims to increase engagement of Koorie learners in pre-accredited core skills training, and support Koorie communities. The loading is calculated for student contact hours delivered to learners who identify as Indigenous, using the base subsidy rate for the year of delivery. The total funding is $1.7 million over four years with $440,000 ongoing.

Skills First funded training provider

Throughout the second half of 2024, the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions worked closely with Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Incorporated to support an application to become a Skills First funded training provider for 2025. Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Incorporated’s submission was successful, and a VET Funded Contract has been awarded for 2025. This means that all Victorian ACC-RTOs are now funded to deliver training under the Skills First program.

Consultation with First Nations communities, leaders, and TAFEs

Throughout 2024, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions and VAEAI continued to engage with TAFE and registered training providers to discuss the trends and qualitative factors underpinning First Peoples participation and completion in VET. As part of that process, the partnership approach with First Peoples was expanded and embedded in the implementation of the National Skills Agreement. Four ACCOs with expertise in learning, skills and training, and culture joined the Victorian Government in formal partnership to represent the aspirations, needs, and priorities of First Peoples in Victoria’s VET sector.

The partners include VAEAI and the members of the Victorian First Nations VET Alliance. The Alliance formed in 2024 and brings together three ACC-RTOs with a combined 55 years of experience in VET across health, community services, and early childhood education and care – the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd and Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre Incorporated.

The diverse expertise of each partner has been drawn upon to co-develop the Jurisdictional Action Plans and Bilateral Implementation Plans under the National Skills Agreement. Consultations in 2024 built on the insights generated in 2023 – participation and enrolment rates, student outcomes, course and location preferences, gender, intersections with departmental programs and funding, and key drivers for VET pathways. In 2024, partners continued to explore these areas and expanded the focus to include workforce issues, cultural safety, and how to build the sustainability and capability of ACC-RTOs. The themes of 2024 consultations are captured in Victoria’s Jurisdictional Action Plan and will be published by the Commonwealth in early 2025.

Yani Bangal Transport and Planning Portfolio First Peoples Careers Strategy 2023 – 2028 (Yani Bangal)

A key focus for the Department for Transport and Planning in 2023-2024 was implementation of the Yani Bangal Transport and Planning Portfolio First Peoples Careers Strategy 2023 – 2028 (Yani Bangal), which was launched during Reconciliation Week in 2023. Yani Bangal is underpinned by a minimum 2 per cent First Peoples employment target and includes 42 actions. Of the 42 actions, 15 are completed (some ongoing), and 13 are in progress. Some of the key actions completed in 2023-2024 include:

• continued delivery of the Yani Bangal Scholarship Program
• establishment of the First Peoples Staff Reference Group
• launch of the Cultural Safety Framework
• the annual First Peoples Staff Conference in May 2024.

In June 2024, Yani Bangal First Peoples Scholarship Program provided 18 scholarships in total to nine secondary school students, eight university students and one TAFE student. This was the largest intake of university students to date, with a strong focus on providing career opportunities and employment pathways into the transport and planning sector.

The Program is funded by entities across the Transport and Planning Portfolio, with agencies contributing $152,000 per annum in shared pooled funding. In January 2024, the program was extended for a further three years until 2026.

The scholarship awards are tiered from $1,250 to $15,000 per recipient, per annum. Increasing by 25 per cent for the forecasted additional three years to account for the rising cost of living in Victoria.

Since its inception in 2020, a total of 60 scholarships have been awarded, comprising of 45 secondary school, two TAFE and 13 university scholarships.

In May 2024, the Department of Transport and Planning hosted the third annual Transport and Planning Portfolio First Peoples Staff Conference, held on Wadawurrung Country in Torquay. The conference was attended by 32 First Peoples employees from across the Transport and Planning Portfolio, including the Department of Transport and Planning, the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority, Suburban Rail Loop Authority, V/Line, Development Victoria, Yarra Trams, and Metro Trains. It provided First Peoples staff with a chance to connect, network, participate in cultural and professional development workshops, and encourage relationship building, enabling better peer-to-peer support.