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Education programs across Australia

Western Australia

Policies and guidelines

• The Plan for Government School Education 1999-2000
• Social Justice in Education Policy and Guidelines
• Information Kit - Cultural Diversity in WA (1997)
• Valuing Diversity - Guidelines for Government Agencies for the Implementation of WA's Multicultural Policy (1997)
• Managing Diversity in the Western Australian Public Sector - Policy Statement (1995)
• The Community Relations Strategy (Living in Harmony) (1998)
• Anti-Racism Policy and Guidelines (1998)
• Aboriginal Employment and Career Action Plan (1997)
• State Settlement Planning Committee
• Languages Services Policy
• Culturally Sensitive Grievance Procedures for Racial Discrimination and Harassment
• Students at Educational Risk Policy and Guidelines
• Aboriginal Education Operational Plan (AEOP)
• WA Strategic Plan for Aboriginal Educations and Training
• Aboriginal English Policy

The Plan for Government School Education 1999-2000

The purpose of the Education Department of Western Australia is to ensure that all government school students develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to achieve their individual potential and contribute to society.

Social Justice in Education Policy and Guidelines

A policy document describing directions to be taken in achieving social justice. It contains:

• A Social Justice in Education Policy Statement
• Guidelines for each area of specific need
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students
• Non-English Speaking Background Students
• Students with Disabilities
• Gender Equity
• Gifted and Talented Students
• Guidelines for the use of bias-free language.

The document supports the Education Department's over-arching statement of purpose and ethos which ensures a comprehensive, quality education, a striving for excellence, the maximising of educational achievements and the provision of educational experiences which suit the developing needs and interests of all students.

Information Kit - Cultural Diversity in WA (1997)

An Information Kit on Cultural Diversity in Western Australia. It is intended primarily for government and non-government service providers, to help them ensure that their services are responsive to the needs of their diverse clientele. It contains useful tips about communicating with ethnic community groups; consultation strategies; issues to be considered in providing cultural diversity awareness training; information concerning translating and interpreting services; collection of ethnicity data; strategies to achieve positive community relations.

The kit was devised as an adjunct to Valuing Diversity: Guidelines for Government Agencies and to Living in Harmony: A Community Relations Strategy for Western Australia.

Valuing Diversity - Guidelines for Government Agencies for the Implementation of WA's Multicultural Policy (1997)

Valuing Diversity includes a series of strategies, which assist government agencies to respond equitably and efficiently to their culturally diverse clientele through the development and implementation of appropriate policies, programs and practices.

The strategies relate to human resource management practices in the workplace, with specific emphasis on management in a culturally diverse society and within an equal opportunity legislative framework.

Managing Diversity in the Western Australian Public Sector - Policy Statement (1995)

A policy statement that is concerned with maximising the potential of all employees within an organisation in order that the organisation can better meet its core business goals. This is broader than, but consistent with, equal employment opportunity programs which have traditionally focused upon the needs of individuals.

The Community Relations Strategy (Living in Harmony) (1998)

The Community Relations Strategy (Living in Harmony) is intended to act as a catalyst for the development of initiatives by all sectors of the community which support a tolerant and inclusive society, promote respect for one another and a genuine understanding of the benefits to be reaped from the diversity of our population.

The policy is part of the implementation phase of the WA Government's Multicultural Policy, WA ONE. It is a set of strategies aimed at fulfilling the Government's Pledge to the People on which the Multicultural Policy is based.

The Pledge to the People contains four major principles:

• The equity of all people and our basic human right to freedom from unlawful discrimination
• The freedom of all to preserve, enhance and share their own cultural heritage
• The need to maintain, develop and utilise the skills and talents of all individuals so as to maximise the social and economic benefits of cultural diversity
• A commitment to positive, harmonious and just community relations.

The Multicultural Policy seeks to provide a framework which clearly identifies the part governments must play in promoting good community relations. It also emphasises the critical role of community leaders in making WA a better place to live.

Anti-Racism Policy and Guidelines (1998)

The Education Department's Anti Racism Policy aims to generate an environment in schools and workplaces that is free from racial discrimination and harassment. Accompanying guidelines provide a process which can be followed in the event that students or employees experience racism or harassment within their place of learning or employment.

Aboriginal Employment and Career Action Plan (1997)

The Aboriginal Employment and Career Action Plan was developed to increase Aboriginal employee recruitment within the Education Department to 3% by 2000 and to provide an environment in which Aboriginal people are retained and advanced.

State Settlement Planning Committee

A committee of State and Commonwealth Government Department representatives responsible for ensuring proper planning processes to support the settlement of newly arrived migrants.

Languages Services Policy

This policy promotes the right of all people to have an interpreter to access and participate in decision making.

Culturally Sensitive Grievance Procedures for Racial Discrimination and Harassment

The culturally sensitive grievance procedures support the Anti-Racism Policy, providing an avenue of change for any employee or student who experiences racial discrimination.

Students at Educational Risk Policy and Guidelines

Research has confirmed that a significant number of students are at risk of not achieving the overarching outcomes of schooling. The Education Department of Western Australia recognises that risk is not fixed and that students may move in and out of educational risk. All students have the potential to be at educational risk due to a variety of factors including racism.

To minimise this risk, Western Australian government schools:

• establish and implement procedures within school planning for the identification of students at risk
• develop and implement appropriate educational programs for individuals and groups of students who may be at educational risk
• are accountable for the educational progress of individuals and groups of students at educational risk.

Aboriginal Education Operational Plan (AEOP)

The AEOP is the Education Department's plan for improving outcomes in Aboriginal Education. The plan is premised on schools:

• identifying Aboriginal students at educational risk as early as possible
• taking responsibility and being accountable for the educational outcomes of all Aboriginal students, specially those at educational risk
• using those resources that have been allocated for improving Aboriginal education for the purpose for which they were allocated.

WA Strategic Plan for Aboriginal Education and Training

This plan is a statement of the major priorities, outcomes and strategies for Aboriginal education and training. It is the principal planning tool for all agencies providing education and training services to Aboriginal people in Western Australia. This plan aims to promote and ensure improved outcomes for Aboriginal people through the adoption of agreed outcomes and strategies.

Aboriginal English Policy

This policy recognises Aboriginal English as an appropriate language of teaching and learning. The policy will ensure that Aboriginal English is recognised as a distinct dialect of English and provides a curriculum that enables Aboriginal English speakers to achieve successful educational outcomes.