Investing in improved Aboriginal literacy

http://www.katemullinassociation.org/KMA/ 

The KMA is seeking funds to provide a scholarship ($20,000) to support one additional Aboriginal student with scholarship support ($5,000 per year) for the four years of a Primary School teaching degree. This scholarship will assist students with travel to and from Perth and assist with living expenses and accommodation. The KMA operates The Kate Mullin Scholarship Fund which is designed to assist Aboriginal people from remote or rural communities (e.g. Aboriginal Teacher Assistants) to study for a Bachelor of Education and return to work in schools in remote or rural communities where there is a high percentage of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students. This will strengthen local capacity in teaching literacy to Aboriginal students, bringing in teachers who are familiar with Aboriginal culture, adding much-needed bi-lingual capabilities, and providing strong role models for Aboriginal youth. This will address the fundamental problem Aboriginal schools have in finding and keeping teachers. There are currently four Aboriginal students supported by similar scholarships with funds provided by KMA members and supporters. This support is critical for these students, three of whom live in regional areas and have limited means to support themselves through the full four-year program (see attached Newsletter). Support from the Tucker Foundation would allow KMA to work towards this objective and increase the number of scholarships from 4 to 5.