Understanding the role of Aboriginal Education Officers in nurturing the aspirations of First Nations primary school students

Aboriginal Education Officers (AEOs) play a critical role in supporting First Nations students in primary schools. They are often employed to support learning, influence positive outcomes, provide connections to culture, and to improve disconnections between the school and community (Armour & Miller, 2023; Macgill, 2017). While the role of an AEO in New South Wales has evolved since the 1970s and there is limited research written about AEOs by Aboriginal people, there is no research that we have been able to identify which seeks to understand the influence of AEOs on the aspirations of First Nations students. In this paper we draw on interview data from 24 AEOs from NSW public schools. The interviews, conducted in three research projects since 2016 demonstrate that AEOs play a crucial role in supporting and nurturing the aspirations of First Nations students. Their role is complex and includes providing a point of liaison between community, schooling and students, facilitating and evaluating aspirational initiatives and programs, and guarding against much of the day-to-day racism evident in the lives of children, particularly with regard to post-school employment options. We argue that the while the role of an AEO is widely undervalued and the complexity of their work is largely misunderstood, their role in supporting the aspirations of primary school students is essential.  



Armour, D., & Miller, J. (2023). The role of Aboriginal education officers in the context of settler colonial schooling: challenges and possibilities. Australian Educational Researcher, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/S13384-023-00634-8/TABLES/2 

Macgill, B. (2017). Aboriginal Community Education Officers’ fight for agency and equality: a historical overview. Australian Aboriginal Studies, 2, 56–69. https://doi.org/10.3316/INFORMIT.249618673981568