Indigenous Education Strategy - Issue 16

he Families as First Teachers (FaFT) program won a Chief Minister’s award for improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment outcomes.

Families as First Teachers Director, Regina Thompson said the win was fantastic recognition of the program’s support for local employment, with 57% of its staff being Aboriginal.

“FaFT values and respects Aboriginal culture and our Aboriginal employees are critical to the program’s success,’’ she said.

“A child’s family is the single biggest predictor of their educational success later in life so the award is great recognition of the efforts that our communities and educators put into the program.”

Gapuwiyak School Family Educator Alison Wunungmurra said working at FaFT provided her with the opportunity to make a change in children’s lives.

“It was clear for me that I needed to do something and be somebody to help these kids and these families,” she said.

“I want all the kids to have a strong education; to have the ability to stand up and thrive in education. That’s what I want to see in my lifetime.

“It gives you opportunity to show how amazing early childhood education is. It’s really exciting and the excitement doesn’t stop.”

The Families as First Teachers program actively supports local Aboriginal employment opportunities. Of its 88 staff, 50 are Aboriginal women employed as Family Liaison Officers and Family Educators.