Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-01T02:03:59.497Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Indigenous Mothers' Aspirations for Their Children in Perth, Western Australia: The Value of Education and Schooling

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2015

Helen Lette ,
Edouard Tursan d'Espaignet ,
Linda Slack-Smith ,
Kerry Hunt  and
Janine Nannup
Helen Lette
Affiliation:
Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, PO Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia, 6872, Australia
Edouard Tursan d'Espaignet
Affiliation:
Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, PO Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia, 6872, Australia
Linda Slack-Smith
Affiliation:
School of Population Health and School of Dentistry, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Perth, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
Kerry Hunt
Affiliation:
Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, PO Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia, 6872, Australia
Janine Nannup
Affiliation:
Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, PO Box 855, West Perth, Western Australia, 6872, Australia
Get access

Abstract

This project involved the collection of stories about the aspirations, goals and strategies from a sample of mothers of Indigenous children living in Perth, Western Australia. Analysis of the semi-structured interviews indicated that the education of their children was important for many of the mothers. Whilst some of the mothers preferred their children to learn about their Indigenous history, culture and identity, others valued the type of education that emanates from a mainstream-style school system. A major theme was a need for schools to partner with Indigenous parents in the decision-making process to engage the families in a positive education experience.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education , Volume 38 , Issue 1 , January 2009 , pp. 65 - 73
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Australian Broadcasting Corporation. (2002). Exodus from Tennant Creek High School. Retrieved 2 February 2009, from wwwabc.net.au/worldtoday/s647517.htm.Google Scholar
Bourke, C. J., Rigby, K., & Burden, J. (2000). Better practice in school attendance: Improving the school attendance of Indigenous students. Melbourne, VIC: Monash University.Google Scholar
Broome, R. (1982). Aboriginal Australians: Black response to white dominance 1788–1980 Sydney: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Collard, K. (2000). Aboriginal culture. In Dudgeon, P., Garvey, D., & Pickett, H. (Eds.), Working with Indigenous Australians: A handbookfor psychologists (pp. 21–26). Perth, WA: Gunada Press.Google Scholar
Cowlishaw, G. (1999). Rednecks, eggheads and blackfellas: A study of racial power and intimacy in Australia. Sydney, NSW: Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Devitt, J., Hall, G., & Tsey, K. (2001). Underlying causes. In Condon, J., Warman, G., & Arnold, L. (Eds.), The health and welfare of Territorians (pp. 9–18). Darwin: Territory Health Services.Google Scholar
Dodson, P. L. (1991). Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody: Regional Report of Inquiry into Underlying Issues in Western Australia. Canberra, ACT: Australian Government Printing Service.Google Scholar
Dudgeon, P. (2000). Indigenous identity. In Dudgeon, P., Garvey, D. & Pickett, H. (Eds.), Working with Indigenous Australians: A handbook for psychologists (pp. 27–30). Perth, WA: Gunada Press.Google Scholar
Eades, S. J., Read, A. W., & Bibbulung Gnarneep Team (1999). Infant Care Practices in a metropolitan Aboriginal population. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 55(6), 541–544.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Enembaru, I. G. (2000). The socialisation of the Aboriginal child. In Dudgeon, P., Garvey, D. & Pickett, H. (Eds.), Working with Indigenous Australians: A handbook for psychologists (pp. 177–179). Perth, WA: Gunada Press.Google Scholar
Gordon, S., Hallahan, K., & Henry, D. (2002). Putting the picture together: Inquiry into response by Government Agencies to complaints of family violence and child abuse in Aboriginal communities Perth, WA: Department of Premier and Cabinet.Google Scholar
Kearins, J. (2001). Children and cultural difference. In Dudgeon, P.Garvey, D. & Pickett, H. (Eds.), Working with Indigenous Australians: A handbook for psychologists (167–175). Perth, WA: Gunada Press.Google Scholar
Mahony, A. (2002). The health status of Perth Aboriginal children in early childhood in the 1990s (The Bibbulung Gnarneep Health Profile Study), Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry. Perth, WA: The University of Western Australia.Google Scholar
Malin, M. (2003). Is schooling good for Aboriginal children's health?, Cooperative Research Centre for Aboriginal and Tropical Health, Occasional Paper Series, 8, 24.Google Scholar
Nguyen, V. K., & Peschard, K. (2003). Anthropology inequality and disease: A review. Annual Review of Anthropology, 32, 447–474.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scully, B. (2002). School attendance, community and education policy: An exploration of attendance patterns at Milingimbi CEC. Darwin, NT: Northern Territory University.Google Scholar
Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision. (2003). Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage: Key indicators 2003. Canberra, ACT: Productivity Commission.Google Scholar
Trudgen, R. (2000). Why warriors lie down and die. Darwin, NT: Aboriginal Resource and Development Services Inc.Google Scholar