The Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AVCC) has today welcomed the release of the Indigenous Higher Education Advisory Council's (IHEAC) report Improving Indigenous Outcomes and Enhancing Indigenous Culture and Knowledge in Australian Higher Education by the Minister for Education, Science and Training the Hon Julie Bishop.
AVCC President Professor Gerard Sutton said that Vice-Chancellors would review the Report, and its Priorities, in detail in the context of the sector's existing objective for 2020 of improving the outcomes of higher education for Indigenous people.
"The Priorities in the Report align with the priorities identified by the AVCC through its Committee on Indigenous Higher Education for the sector," Professor Sutton said.
The Priorities identified by the AVCC in 2005 are:
identifying and breaking down barriers between secondary and tertiary education;
increased support for Indigenous students in higher education;
increased numbers of postgraduate coursework and research students; and
improved Indigenous education as a Government priority.
"Vice-Chancellors are already considering how to progress increased participation in higher education by the Indigenous community, and the AVCC welcomes the Minister's commitment of funding towards the implementation of the Report's Priorities.
"The AVCC and its Committee on Indigenous Higher Education looks forward to working with IHEAC and the Government in furthering the Priorities in the Report," Professor Sutton said.
The AVCC also notes the publication of the Final Report of the Review into the impact of ABSTUDY policy changes that came into effect in 2000 which is today available on the DEST website and will review its findings in concert with the AVCC response to the IHEAC Report.
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