Engaging communities: empowering futures

The framework

The Department of Education acknowledges the diversity in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities and the importance of engaging appropriately with them at an individual, school and corporate level.

Sustained, respectful and inclusive engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, organisations and communities at all levels is integral to the department’s efforts to improve early childhood and school education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and students.

To support this to occur, the department has produced Engaging communities: empowering futures (PDF, 4.9MB) (RTF, 914KB) — a framework for engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The purpose of this framework is to enhance engagement between the department and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities in Queensland.

It aims to strengthen all departmental employees’ interaction with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities and is based on 5 guiding principles:

1. building on strengths
2. cultivating relationships and connections
3. demonstrating cultural respect and recognition
4. employing appropriate communication and language
5. lifting capability and creating opportunities.

A list of resources is available to assist central office, regional, school-based and early childhood education staff more effectively engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, students, families, communities, organisations and employees.

For more information please email indigenous.policy@qed.qld.gov.au.