The Aboriginal Cultural Standards Framework sets expected standards for all staff when working with Aboriginal students, their parents and families, and communities. The framework has five cultural standards and a continuum aligned with the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership’s Australian Professional Standard for Principals and Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
The framework supports staff to reflect on their behaviours, attitudes and practices with a view to progressing from cultural awareness to cultural responsiveness so we can maximise learning outcomes for Aboriginal students. This includes staff in central and regional offices. All schools are required to seek continuous improvement and account for their performance, and the framework is another aspect of self-reflection to drive improvement. Staff will not be measured nor assessed against the framework but should use it to reflect on their own, and the school’s, behaviours and practices.
Our Aboriginal Cultural Standards Framework – the first in Australia – is an exciting development for our system and one that will help us put into action the steps we need to take for our schools to become culturally responsive.
