This innovative grant program was announced as part of the Commonwealth’s first Implementation Plan under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
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The program’s objective is to support the establishment of formal partnerships between high-performing schools and remote schools with a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
The Australian Government is investing a total of $24.6m (GST exclusive) towards this program over 2021-22 to 2025-26. Of this amount, $3.8m is available for the delivery organisation’s operational costs and the remaining $20.8m is for the partnership activities. The Yadha Muru Foundation (YMF) will facilitate the program, working with the department and with proponents to support the selection and establishment of partnerships.
It is intended that the program’s outcomes will contribute towards:
- improving student outcomes and attendance rates, which are key drivers for Year 12 attainment
- accelerating progress toward meeting Target 5 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap Agreement.
YMF will work with schools and First Nations communities to identify and implement school partnerships. They will undertake a selection process with grantee schools to be agreed by the Department of Education. YMF will also source philanthropic and other funding sources and will assist participating schools to build the sustainability of the partnerships long term.
The program will be independently evaluated as a part of a joint evaluation of the Commonwealth’s Closing the Gap Schools initiatives.
For further information, and to enquire about participating in this program, please visit City-Country Partnerships — Yadha Muru Foundation.
The Yadha Muru Foundation
Yadha Muru means “good path” in the language of the Dharug people.
The Yadha Muru Foundation (YMF) was formed in 2019 as an Indigenous led independent not-for-profit. YMF’s ambition is to facilitate the widespread replication of the school partnership model in Indigenous education. The partnership model allows students, families and communities to work closely with schools to find a ‘good path’ for their children resulting in educational success and positive future pathways.
YMF Board is chaired by Dr Leanne Holt (Pro-Vice Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy) and Adjunct Academic Fellow at Macquarie University) and includes Sean Gordon (Gidgee Group), Cherie Johnson (Speaking In Colour) and Peter Berkley.