We fund 4 initiatives to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to reach their full education potential.
Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy (CYAAA)
We've partnered with Good to Great Schools Australia at the Cape York Aboriginal Australia Academy (CYAAA) to deliver a tailored curriculum model to support students to fulfil their education potential.
CYAAA has a vision of 'best of both worlds' with educational opportunities for students to support their bicultural identity while preparing them to succeed in high quality secondary boarding school. CYAAA has developed a comprehensive school model that incorporates 4 distinct, but related, learning domains of Childhood, Class, Club and Culture, which are integrated into the curriculum. These are complemented by the Community domain which focuses on engaging parents and families to support student attendance, school readiness and wellbeing.
Departmental staff can search 'Cape York Aboriginal Australian Academy' on OnePortal for further information about this initiative.
Wellbeing Pilot Program—CYAAA
To support the education, health and wellbeing needs of CYAAA students and their families, we commenced a Wellbeing Pilot Program (December 2023). This is ongoing.
This pilot includes the development of health and wellbeing plans for early intervention for students, case management and referrals to external services and in-school counselling. Through early intervention for students' health and wellbeing we seek to improve student engagement and academic performance to enable all students to fulfill their education potential.
Internal evaluations have found the Wellbeing Pilot to be effective in identifying students needing further support or reasonable adjustment due to disability. It highlighted the need to strengthen early childhood screening and intervention, so children are given the best start once they start kindergarten.
Departmental staff can search 'Wellbeing Pilot Program CYAAA' on OnePortal for further information about this initiative.
Indigenous Education Grant
The Indigenous Education Grant (IEG) is provided directly to eligible Queensland state schools twice a year to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to be enrolled, engaged and achieving at school at the same rate as non-Indigenous students.
Education Horizon's Research Grant—First Nations Round
We fund research to provide an evidence-base to develop appropriate strategies to support all students to remain engaged in education and achieve their full potential.
In 2024–2025 we commissioned a First Nations research grant through the Education Horizons Research Grant to explore educational success factors for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and the extent that these factors influence (i.e. school attendance, achievement, retention and attainment).
The research findings are due in late 2026. The findings will inform future investment in programs, initiatives and strategies that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to engage in education and close the education gap when compared to non-Indigenous students.