The Department of Education operates a number of initiatives to improve educational outcomes by focusing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student engagement.
These engagement programs operate in 40 state schools across Queensland, and play an integral role in addressing attendance, attainment and equity indicators within the department's
Strategic Plan 2023–2027 and priorities articulated in the
Equity and Excellence Strategy.
The primary objective of each program is to provide targeted engagement incentives to encourage young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to remain actively engaged in education until completion of Year 12.
The
Clontarf Foundation's Academies program provide mentoring, coaching and extra-curricular activities that build on students' passion for football to encourage behavioural change; and develop values, skills and abilities that will assist students to achieve better life outcomes.
The
Stars Foundation program provides relationship-based in-school mentoring, intensive case management to support low attendance, and wellbeing support to increase retention rates and levels of attainment.
The
Brisbane Broncos program provides relationship-based in-school mentoring, life-skills workshops and intensive case management.
The
Netball Queensland program is aligned to the P-10 Australian Curriculum and provides personalised mentoring support, workshops on health and wellbeing, co-curricular netball sessions, and extracurricular activities with Queensland Firebirds players and staff.