The Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund believes that supporting programmes which improve education outcomes for Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is a key to improving social wellbeing and economic participation. Below are some of the education programmes supported by the Fund.

 

 

INDIJ READERS
(2004 to 2008)

Indij Readers is a community based company formed in 2002, which develops and publishes contemporary, Indigenous reading material for students learning to read and write. In addition to producing quality Indigenous literacy material, which has been very well received by Indigenous and non-Indigenous students, Indij Readers encourages emerging Indigenous authors and illustrators and intends to introduce literacy initiatives into Indigenous communities. The Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund provided initial financial support over a three year period. Later the Fund agreeded to provide support for a further two years to assist Indij Readers to develop a Community Writers Kit.

 

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CLONTARF ACADEMY - KATHERINE
(2008 TO 2010)

The Clontarf Foundation programme was created to keep young Aboriginal men in mainstream education until they complete Year 12. It does this by establishing football academies connected to mainstream schools. The RTAF is joining the Federal and Northern Territory governments in funding a new academy in Katherine that opens in 2008. Existing academies have demonstrated their ability to improve the discipline, life skills and self esteem of their graduates and the chances of them finding employment in the mainstream economy.

CAPE YORK INSTITUTE
(2005 to 2010)

The Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership delivers the Higher expectations programme (tertiary). It is designed to help young people from remote Cape York communities to obtain a tertiary education and to nurture their leadership potential. The Institute supports participants for the duration of their tertiary courses through mentoring, tutoring, supplementary coursework, leadership training, professional case management, and financial and practical resources to ensure they are well equipped to be fully engaged in their education. The programme has an intake of ten to twelve participants each year. The RTAF has undertaken to fund the programme for six years from 2005.

INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERING SUMMER SCHOOL
(1998 to 2008)

Each January elected Indigenous high school students from all parts of Australia attend a weeklong school where they are exposed to the idea of engineering as a career option. The University of NSW , the University of Sydney and the University of Newcastle have all hosted the Summer School since its initiation in 1998. Over 22 alumni have graduated with engineering qualifications from university, and gone on to be role models in the profession. Not only does the programme inspire students about engineering, but helps provide links between students, the Faculty or Engineering and the Indigenous community at the university, and wider industry. The School has also prompted young Aboriginal Australians to pursue a wide range of other educational opportunities. The Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund was the first funding body and has supported the programme ever since.

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YACHAD ACCELERATED LEARNING PROGRAM - YALP
(2005 to 2007)

YALP is based on an Israeli education model that employs accelerated learning techniques to help children left behind by the regular school system. The programme aims to raise the numeracy and literacy levels of the Aboriginal students to age appropriate national benchmarks. YALP focuses on the individual learning needs of students; one on one tutoring and close engagement with the local Aboriginal communities are key aspects of the programme.

 

The programme runs in Halls Creek, Western Australia; Shepparton, Victoria; and Aurukun, Queensland. More recently YALP has established the programme at the Yipirinya School in Alice Springs and the South Australian Indigenous Sports Training Academy in North Adelaide .

 

The RTAF began its support in 2005. Other partners include Argyle Diamonds, Commonwealth and State Government departments, the business community, philanthropists and universities.

INDIGENOUS EDUCATION LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
(2006)

In 2006 the Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund provided seed funding support to the Indigenous Education Leadership Institute, established by Chris Sarra in 2005 as a partnership between the Queensland Department of Education and the Arts and the Queensland University of Technology. The support was provided to assist with set up costs for the Institute and to support the development and implementation of the Stronger smarter programme, designed to develop leadership skills in schools with many Aboriginal pupils. The outcomes include more effective teaching; improved performance by the children, and better relationships between the schools and their Aboriginal communities. The Institute has since attracted significant additional funding from the Telstra Foundation and Sidney Myer Fund to run its Stronger smarter realities project, a considerable extension of the Stronger smarter programme.

TRIBAL WARRIOR
(2002 to 2005)

The Rio Tinto Aboriginal Fund and Rio Tinto Shipping formed a partnership with the Tribal Warrior Association (TWA). The TWA is a non-profit community organisation, initiated and directed by Aboriginal people, that runs training programmes for Indigenous people leading to employment in the maritime industry.

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