What are the impacts from Aboriginal Literacy programs on the Indigenous community?

There are both short term and long term impacts from Aboriginal Literacy programs on the Indigenous community;

Short Term

 

• Improvement in schooling success and academic ability including engagement and participation in school activities.
• Through the provision of targeted support and literacy resources we can expect reading gains of between one and three year levels over 12 months
• Camps provide a valuable forum for the improvement of relationships between students, parents or carers and tutors.
• Reduction in anti-social and criminal behaviour
• A greater ability to actively participate in the community and civic life
• Children learn other valuable life skills such as leadership, persistence, confidence, team work and respect for elders.

 

Long Term

 

• Improved health and well being and life expectancy
• Improvement in future employment opportunities
• Reduction in youth crime and related anti-social behaviour

 

These services also offer a wider impact;

One of the cornerstones behind the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation’s literacy support in the community is that we not only improve literacy levels of individual students but we contribute to generational change.  As one child in a family understands the value of literacy and education, so too will siblings, parents and peers.  As one child develops and gains employment, improved health and living conditions it is our belief that the individual will also pass these new values on to future generations.  The structural change to the local community will be significant for many lifetimes.

A more cohesive Australian society will be achieved through the opportunities that education provides.  The ability for Indigenous Australians to read and write at an acceptable level, to be able to present themselves with confidence and to have higher self esteem will enable them to stand confidently in our society and seek opportunities within their local community and beyond.  They will be able to make valuable contributions to society which will foster respect, understanding and acceptance between various cultures.