Aboriginal partnership agreement is signed

The local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group has signed a partnership agreement with the Brisbane Waters Learning Community, representing local schools.

A ceremony was held at Ettalong Public School on Friday, November 12, to celebrate the partnership.

The agreement was signed by representatives of the consultative group and the principals of the five primary schools and two secondary campuses in the Learning Community.

The schools represented were Woy Woy, Woy Woy South, Ettalong, Umina and Empire Bay Public Schools, as well as the two Brisbane Water Secondary College campuses.

Woy Woy Public School principal Ms Ona Buckley said: "This allows Aboriginal people to have a voice in self-determining their educational future which will impact on the future prosperity of Aboriginal communities."

She said the state-wide network of consultative groups allowed policies and programs to be developed to meet the needs of aboriginal people and their communities.

Aboriginal communities and the Department of Education and Training would work together under the partnership agreement "to achieve common goals set in consultation and negotiation," said Ms Buckley.

Newsletter, 16 Nov 2010 Ona Buckley, Woy Woy Public School