Weekly Tutoring of Indigenous Children

 

Every year the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation provides over 4000 individual tutoring sessions to young people who are in desperate need of assistance. The tutoring sessions are provided by a combination of trained volunteers and professional tutors.

 

The program works closely with schools, community groups and parents. Recent funding has provided an expansion of tutoring in the following regions; Swan Hill, Mildura, Shepparton, Gippsland, Ballarat, Bendigo, Warrnambool and Melbourne.

 

Tutoring sessions are provided in both English and the students own Indigenous local language.

 

Over 70% of participants involved in the tutoring program are able to improve their literacy and numeracy skills to the basic national level.

 

Our weekly tutoring service conducts preliminary, 6 week, 25 week, 40 week and post-testing and evaluation of each student. The evaluation focuses on the following outcomes;

 

• Literacy and Numeracy outcome: Tracking the levels of literacy and numeracy progression

 

• Readiness to learn outcome: Monitoring the conditions and environment to which the young person is able to concentrate and participate in learning

 

• Health and wellbeing outcome: Tracking the student’s sense of self esteem and well being

 

• Future opportunities outcome: Tracking if the student has become more positive towards education and employment as he/she develops in literacy skills

 

The Evaluation provides a bench mark for measuring improvements for the student, parent and the tutor over the 12 month program. We are able to monitor improvements of each of the students and tailor and adjust the tutoring program to suit each person’s needs.

 

Indigenous students are selected for the tutoring sessions as a result of referrals from schools, parents, community groups and literacy testing.

 

We are now operating the program in 15 communities with the full and enthusiastic support of a team of volunteers, professional tutors and the local Indigenous community.

 

“I never thought I could learn to read and write, but with the weekly help of Steve, my tutor, now I can. I’m so happy” Craig, aged 14.

 

Literacy Testing, Research and Evaluation

The Aboriginal Literacy Foundation provides Literacy Testing, Research and Evaluation for Indigenous students throughout Australia. This testing is provided for early detection on literacy and numeracy issues among Indigenous students. This offers families early intervention and support for the students. Over the past twelve months the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation tested 3000 students.