Board Bulletin (Vol 17 No 1)

The Aboriginal Education Unit at the Office of the Board of Studies has won a Silver Award in the Premier’s Public Sector Awards.

Nominated in the ‘Fairness and Opportunity’ category for Building the educational capacity of Aboriginal communities, the Unit received the award from Premier Iemma at a function in November 2007.

Speaking after the presentation, Dr John Bennett, General Manager of the Office of the Board of Studies, said, ‘The award acknowledges the combined efforts of Board of Studies staff and many collaborators, including Aboriginal language centres and community groups, schools, teachers, universities and representatives of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and other government agencies.’

‘This is a great achievement on the part of everyone who played a role in bringing this project to fruition,’ Dr Bennett said.

The Board has managed a series of projects that have improved educational outcomes for Aboriginal students in metropolitan Sydney and regional and remote areas of NSW. The projects have also benefited parents, schools and communities on many levels.

The learning projects include Mathematics in Indigenous Contexts, the Board's special role in meeting the literacy needs of Aboriginal students, and broad development of the Aboriginal Educational Contexts website.