Coal & Allied supports aspiring Indigenous teacher

An aspiring Indigenous teacher has been recognised with a grant to help realise her dream of building a better future for local Indigenous children.

Fiona Johnson will receive $2,500 from the Coal & Allied Aboriginal Development Consultative Committee (ADCC) towards her degree in primary education at Australian Catholic University.

The grant brings the ADCC's total funding to more than $450,000 since its inception in 2006.

Ms Johnson hopes this support will help her strengthen links between local schools and their Indigenous students.

"Indigenous kids have lower national benchmark averages in literacy and numeracy than non-Indigenous kids," said Ms Johnson said.

"By becoming a teacher, I hope to raise awareness among schools of the issues faced by Indigenous students and work with their communities to achieve higher educational outcomes and to nurture the education of all children."

Ms Johnson, who works as a casual teacher in the Catholic school system, has wanted to teach for as long as she can remember but put her ambitions on hold to raise a family.

Although commencing her studies as a mature aged student has been a challenge, Ms Johnson said the support from Coal & Allied would be a great help.

"The money from Coal & Allied's ADCC will go towards my university fees and allow me to concentrate on achieving the best results I can at uni," Ms Johnson said.

Coal & Allied Aboriginal Relations Specialist and ADCC Executive Officer, Cate Sims, said Ms Johnson has shown determination and resolve in her goal of becoming a teacher and the ADCC is pleased to help her achieve her goals.

"The ADCC first funded Fiona in 2006 and we are happy to once again offer her our assistance," Ms Sims said.

The Coal & Allied ADCC aims to achieve improved access and sustainable outcomes for Aboriginal people in education, training, employment and economic participation.

Earlier this year, the Ku-Wal Education and Resource Centre at Singleton High School opened its doors after receiving $80,000 in funding from the ADCC.

Other recently approved funding has supported an Indigenous ballerina's development and engaging an Aboriginal artist in residence at Catholic schools in the Upper Hunter Valley.

Media Enquiries:
Nathan Scholz
07 3361 4354 / 0417 613 174

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