Remote Aboriginal students learning in two worlds

The Australian Government is proud to announce the ongoing commitment to the Northern Land Council’s Learning on Country Program, extending the education program for six years to 2028.

This joint initiative connects Aboriginal ranger groups with Territory schools to integrate ‘both ways learning’, increasing school retention and options for pathways to employment.

The addition of $29.4 million will expand the program’s footprint to a total of 19 sites, up from 15, and increase the target cohort to include both middle and senior school students.

Employment of Indigenous leadership in the program will also be increased to 75 per cent and improvements will be made to measuring outcomes.

By bringing together ranger groups' valuable knowledge of land and sea management, and guided by Traditional Owners, the Learning on Country program plays a key role in developing the next generation of rangers and custodians in and out of the classroom.

This initiative has been instrumental in developing strong partnerships in the Territory at both a community and regional level, while providing meaningful employment opportunities and upskilling for Aboriginal people.

In the spirit of co-design and partnership, the Learning on Country program has been designed with the National Indigenous Australians Agency, Northern Land Council, the Northern Territory Government, Indigenous community groups and Indigenous ranger organisations.

For more information on the program, visit Learning on Country

Quotes attributable to Minister Burney:

“The Australian Government is proud to support this strong community-led program which facilitates ‘two way’ learning and intergenerational knowledge transfer.

“Supporting First Nations students to engage with their schooling in this way and prioritise learning on Country nurtures an increased sense of identity and self-esteem.

“By integrating culture and Country into the school curriculum, remote Aboriginal students can walk strong in both worlds and be given more paths to success.

“This significant investment will ensure many more young people benefit from this program for years to come and remain strongly connected and proud of their traditional knowledge systems.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister Malarndirri McCarthy:

“We are lucky to live in a country that is home to the world’s oldest continuous culture, with over 60,000 years of knowledge, teaching and learning on country.”

“The Learning on Country Program keeps children engaged in fun and meaningful learning while providing invaluable employment opportunities for rangers in regional and remote Australia.”

Quotes attributable to Chairman of the Northern Land Council, Samuel Bush-Blanasi:

“The Northern Land Council is proud to administer the Learning on Country Program, which has gone from strength to strength over the last 10 years.

"This funding will help ensure that more remote Indigenous students have access to an education pathway that supports them to walk strong in our culture and balanda culture.

“Our children are the future and I want to see them get the right education and go on to live healthy and fulfilling lives and care for their families, community and Country – this program creates that pathway for them.

“I look forward to celebrating this important commitment by the Federal Government at the Learning on Country 10th Anniversary celebrations at Nitmiluk National Park this week.”

Quotes attributable to Chairperson of the Learning on Country Program, Cindy Jinmarabynana:

“On behalf on the Learning on Country Steering Committee I would like to thank the Australian Government for their ongoing support of this program.

“This commitment to a further 6 years of funding reflects its success and the educational and employment outcomes it is achieving for remote Indigenous students.

“It also pays respect to the schools and ranger groups that deliver this program across our 15 communities, especially the Indigenous stakeholders past and present who have invested their time and knowledge to guide the program from the beginning.

“We welcome this announcement with much excitement and appreciation and look forward to the stability and sustainability this news brings to a program Indigenous people value so much.”