First Nations education: educational provision in remote communities of Australia

Australia is often thought of as an advanced nation with a strong education system. But for First Nations people living in remote communities, the system has, to a large extent, failed them. Against a backdrop of colonial assimilation, many schools struggle to offer meaningful and engaging education for students. This is reflected in low attendance and retention levels, and academic outcomes that fall well short of what urban communities expect. Policies, such as those that prioritize residential boarding over local secondary provision, continue to discriminate against First Nations people in remote communities. Despite this bleak picture, there are examples of communities reclaiming control over their schools, reclaiming Indigenous ontologies through language, culture and Country, and working to strengthen the local workforce, contextualizing the curriculum to fit the local context.