ELEANOR HALL: The Queensland Parliament will table a report today that shows there has been a dramatic improvement in school attendance in the Indigenous community of Aurukun.
But Indigenous leaders are already arguing about what is driving the change.
Cape York leader Noel Pearson says the increase in attendance is proof that a $48 million welfare reform trial is working.
But Aboriginal educator, Dr Chris Sarra, says the credit should go to a teaching program that is run at a fraction of the cost.
Annie Guest has our report.
ANNIE GUEST: The welfare reform trials began in four Cape York Peninsula communities in July last year.
A new report shows school attendance at Aurukun has jumped from an average of 37 per cent to 63 per cent. At Mossman Gorge it has improved from around 61 to 82 per cent.
Noel Pearson is the driving force behind the program.
NOEL PEARSON: I am very pleased with the increased rate of school attendance and the general progress that the Family Responsibilities Commission is making.
ANNIE GUEST: The progress in school attendance is not reflected at the two other communities running the trial.
At Coen, it dropped from 97 per cent to 94 per cent, while at Noel Pearson's community of Hope Vale there was a slight fall of less than 1 per cent. School attendance there sits around 87 per cent.
But Noel Pearson attaches little significance to these numbers, saying they already rate above the state average and also, Coen's small size means the statistics change dramatically if people are ill.
NOEL PEARSON: For the great majority of parents, once they know what their responsibilities are, they respond fairly readily.
ANNIE GUEST: The remaining 15 per cent or so of children who haven't yet shown up more regularly at school are believed to be from families with problems including substance abuse.
The trials, linking welfare payments to school attendance, are different to those in the Northern Territory, because in Queensland the decision making power has been vested in a group including a magistrate and community members.
Recently, the Federal Government said the six month old Northern Territory trials had so far shown improved enrolments but not attendance.
NOEL PEARSON: If these are parents who've been warned many times before, you know, the commissioners know that the game is up here. We're not just an agency of government, we are your uncles or your aunts or your grandparents here, and we have authority, not just under the law of Queensland, we have authority under our own culture here.
ANNIE GUEST: But there is scepticism about the $48 million, four-year program.
Queensland University of Technology Indigenous academic Dr Chris Sarra says he's been working with teachers at Aurukun and believes that's made the difference.
Dr Sarra is known for dramatically improving students' attendance while he was the principal of the Cherbourg community school in Queensland's southern inland.
CHRIS SARRA: If you focus on Aurukun, there are serious questions there about whether the improvement in attendance is the result of welfare reforms or whether it's the result of the injection or the investment in quality leadership and quality teaching that's occurred there.
ANNIE GUEST: And what about the other one of the four communities that showed improved school attendance, Mossman?
CHRIS SARRA: Well I don't know enough out those schools. I've had very little to do with them, but I've had a lot to do with the leadership at Aurukun and the Western Cape college and I think with the stronger, smarter way we can get the job done for 120 times cheaper.
ANNIE GUEST: And, Dr Sarra, can I get you to briefly recap on your stronger, smarter way.
CHRIS SARRA: Well the stronger, smarter way is about, is developing exciting school cultures that embrace the positive sense of Aboriginal student identity, it's about working collaboratively and respectfully with communities, it's about high expectations leadership for high expectations classrooms with high expectations teacher-student relationships.
ANNIE GUEST: The former Queenslander of the Year also says the welfare trials stigmatise Aboriginal communities.
ELEANOR HALL: Annie Guest in Brisbane.
The full story...
Dispute over improved school attendance
Annie Guest reported this story on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 12:44:00
