A homework group for more than 70 indigenous children from Bacchus Marsh to Gordon could start work as early as this month, with the Aboriginal Literacy Foundation offering support to improve literacy and numeracy skills.
The Indigenous Group For Residents in Bacchus Marsh and Surrounds and Moorabool mayor Paul Tatchell met with representatives of the foundation last Wednesday to discuss the new support network.
“We aim to provide resources, teaching staff, volunteers, books and digital equipment to assist kids and make sure their literacy and numeracy skills are on track,” Aboriginal Literacy Foundation chief executive David Perrin said.
Research shows 87 per cent of indigenous children in regional and remote areas struggle to read and write and fall well below national literacy benchmarks.
Indigenous Group team leader Dannielle Cooper says classes will be open to any Moorabool child from a multicultural background who’s facing language barriers.
The 2011 census showed there were 200 indigenous or Torres Strait Islander residents in Moorabool, making up 0.9 per cent of the total population.
“We’re hoping to improve baseline education and literacy, and create a competitive learning environment which leads to employment,” Mr Perrin said.
According to the foundation, finishing year 10 or 11 increases an indigenous student’s prospects of employment by 40 per cent.
