Follow the Dream

The Follow the Dream: Tertiary Aspirations Strategy for Aboriginal students is designed to help Aboriginal students reach their career potential by graduating from secondary school and achieving university entrance. The focus is primarily on secondary school Aboriginal students who have the academic potential and desire to complete Year 12 with a Tertiary Entrance Rank (ATAR) for university. Students are selected to participate in the program through a local selection process.

Follow the Dream is currently located in 10 metropolitan and 15 regional school sites and is delivered to approximately 600 students.

The program is based on extensive local community consultation.

Key Benefits/Outcomes

• An increase in the number of Aboriginal students staying at school and going on to university.
• Improved literacy and numeracy levels.
• High level achievement in education becoming the norm rather than the exception in Aboriginal communities.
• Enhanced community pride through the acceptance of the contributions and successors.
• Increased employment opportunities for young Aboriginal people.
• Enhanced engagement of Aboriginal people in education and local capacity building.

Links to other Projects/Partners

Follow the Dream is an inter-agency program managed by the Department of Education and Training across the State in collaboration with:

• Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations ;
• Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation;
• Industry and service organisations in regional locations (which provide financial and employment opportunities);
• Kurongkurl Katijin at Edith Cowan University (in the conduct of research to inform improvement and measure success).