More Than the Power of Two: Sharing Leadership for Social Justice in Australian Schools With Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students

• In Event: 42.071 - Achieving the Promise for Indigenous Peoples: Research on Transforming Systems of Education

Abstract

This paper reports on a three year research study of Indigenous Education Workers/Community Education Counsellors (IEWs/CECs) and principals in schools located within a large educational region in Queensland, Australia. The project draws on social justice principles and seeks to advance elimination of inequalities for Indigenous students. Findings will be presented from a regional survey and then from four exemplar case study schools with conclusions that suggest educational leadership for Indigenous student achievement can be maximised if working relationships between key leaders extend beyond the transactional/procedural to a different type of leader collaboration. One that is interwoven on a common ground of shared knowledge, trust, respect and importantly, creates a ‘vorticity’, or powerful flow to pull others into this shared space.

Authors

• Eleanor Louise Wilkinson, James Cook University - Australia

• Brian Ellis Lewthwaite, James Cook University - Australia

• Suzanne Claire McGinty, James Cook University - Australia