Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island boarding schools serve as a lifeline for some of Australia’s most disadvantaged students. ISA’s report includes case studies of four Indigenous boarding schools, demonstrating the significant financial constraints they experience to deliver quality education to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boarders, where the gap between income and the actual cost of delivering a culturally safe, high-quality education is increasing.
ISA ‘s report calls for a sustainable funding model that offers Indigenous boarding schools the certainty they need to plan for the future – one that allows schools to attract and retain passionate staff, maintain essential infrastructure, and most importantly, provide a culturally rich and nurturing environment for students who are far from home.