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Sign our petition and join more than more than 80,000 people walking with us as we lobby the Federal Government and advocate for national education reform for First Nations people.
On 28 February 2024 we are launching The M.K. Turner Report at Parliament House, Canberra.
We’re presenting the Federal Government with a roadmap for education reform. This roadmap has been developed by over 60 First Nations educators from the Utyerre Apanpe (First Nations Educator Network) (oo-cherra a-parn-pa), supported by strong evidence and the United Nations Declaration of Rights for Indigenous People.
When we arrive in Canberra next month, we need to show the Federal Government that we have your support!
Everyone is always saying that we need to make our kids ready for school, but why can’t we make schools ready for our children? M.K. Turner OAM Arrernte Elder, cultural professor, translator, linguist, artist, author and human rights champion.
Everyone is always saying that we need to make our kids ready for school, but why can’t we make schools ready for our children?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are failing in mainstream education in Australia – either because they cannot access education or because the education that is offered sets them up to fail. Evidence points to the fact that children learn better, and show improved academic achievement, when they are learning in their First Language and Culture, and when their learning process reflects their identity and worldview.
“When taught first in their own languages, children learn better, are more self confident and transfer their literacy and numeracy skills to additional languages. Children who start formal education in a second or foreign language are much more likely to experience frustration and failure, resulting in higher dropout rates for these children” – ‘Why language matters for the Millennium Development Goals’, UNESCO, 2018
The M.K. Turner Report offers a plan for First Nations-led and designed education reform in Australia.
With the participation of more than 60 First Nations educators, the Report is a response to the biases in Australia’s education system and the persistent calls from First Nations Elders for recognition of First Nations learning systems that have been successfully practiced in Australia for millennia.
The M.K. Turner Report provides a roadmap for embracing Apmerengentyele (Ap-mer- ung-n-jel-a) – a First Nations world view. It is an argument for a significant reform of the Australian education system to recognise and resource Apmerengentyele, with the goal of Apmerengentyele becoming an accessible and widespread education system of choice for First Nations communities across the country.
The Report also directly aligns with Article 14 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007. Article 14 states:
The M.K. Turner Report offers six recommendations and outcomes for First Nations-led and designed education reform in Australia:
Additionally, the Report positions Utyerre Apanpe as a peak group for First Nations education who state/territory and federal governments can work with to develop a framework and guidelines for First Cultural Educators, covering standards, expertise, development, training and practice.
In 2019, a national network of First Nations educators known as Utyerre Apanpe was established to advocate for a national strategy to improve the education outcomes of First Nations children. The network is led by Elders and made up of over 50 First Nations educators from over 15 Nations across Australia. Their vision is to share knowledge and establish and maintain a First Nations Education System designed and delivered by First Nations people to ensure the highest quality of education for First Nations children.
M.K. was a visionary. She was one of the most prominent leaders of the Arrernte Nation.
Dr M.K. Turner OAM was an Arrernte Elder, cultural professor, translator, linguist, artist, author and human rights champion. She was a strict law woman who never sought power but held power.
She was involved in the development and leadership of Aboriginal organisations across Central Australia. Her passion was the preservation of language and culture. She had over forty years of experience as an interpreter and educator.
In 1996, M.K. received an Order of Australia for her service to the Aboriginal community of Central Australia. She was recognised by Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education in 2022 with the bestowal of an Honorary Doctorate.
She was constantly worried about the loss of culture through the loss of language and promoted standards of excellence and integrity. She was passionate about ensuring First Language and First Cultural education was revitalised and dedicated her life to ensuring this was re-established as a right for future generations.
M.K. passed away two weeks before the launch of her report.
