A COMMITTEE of indigenous parents and educators believe the “No School, No Service” policy could be beneficial to Mount Isa.
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The Indig-Connect Parents and Community Engagement group’s view contradicts that of the Mount Isa Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group, which had submitted a letter to the Mount Isa City Council stating such a policy would be used to discriminate against indigenous school children.
But the policy, which encourages local businesses to ban all school children during school hours, already exists in Doomadgee, Boulia, Camooweal, Burketown and Mornington Island, the committee noted.
The policy should be trialled in Mount Isa for six months to see whether it would reduce school truancy, they said.
Indig-Connect PaCE manager Lila Pigliafiori said if the Mount Isa community wanted to keep children in school then the No School, No Service policy should be embraced.
It would be “positive discipline” for children.
“A child walking around the streets with nothing to do is a sad sight.
“Our children have every opportunity available to them and parents and community need to join forces to encourage school attendance,” she said.
“No more excuses for us parents.”
Mrs Pigliafiori said it was concerning businesses might use the policy to discriminate against indigenous children, but there needed to be data to support the claim.
Indig-Connect PaCE worked in Mount Isa and five other communities including Boulia, Camooweal and Doomadgee since 2012, to support challenges with education, employment, health and social lifestyles, Mrs Pigliafiori said.
The group operated at a grassroots level by working closely with parents, who came up with the initiatives.
“Indigenous parents need to talk, need respite and need to know how to walk around the obstacle of truancy,” she said.
“That is why many have joined Indig-Connect PaCE to do the talk, get the support, do the training and then implement the change.”
The Mount Isa Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Reference Group proposed a forum be held among school principals and relevant stakeholders to discuss school truancy. Indig-Connect PaCE members said the forum should be held in November so the policies discussed could be implemented in time for the new school year.