This poster was originally published 05 April 2022.

Read online

Key findings

Aboriginal students’ HSC attainment is higher when:

• students have aspirations to finish school or go to university
• students are engaged, specifically when they show positive attendance, positive attitude towards homework and positive behaviour at school
• students experience advocacy from adults, specifically when teachers show interest in their school assignments, and their family encourages them to do well.

School completion is linked to lifelong benefits, including higher probability of employment and higher wages.

Strategies for improving HSC completion

• Have high expectations for students’ success, enhance students’ interest and motivation.
• Promote and expect positive behaviour.
• Establish a quality learning environment that supports Aboriginal students to thrive.
• Encourage a positive attitude towards homework behaviour.
• Show interest in students’ work.
• Engage with the parent/carer community to help build advocacy at home.

Drivers of aspiration

• Engagement measures (positive relationships, interest and motivation, homework behaviour, effort) and teachers’ interest greatly influence primary school students.
• Engagement measures (interest and motivation, positive behaviour, effort, expectations for success) and Aboriginal students’ feelings of culture at school, influence secondary school students.