Indigenous young people are set to receive additional support with the federal government investing a further $35 million in two programs to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
The announcement on Wednesday will see both the Clontarf Foundation and the MultiLit program receive funding as part of the government's commitment to closing the gap.
"It's essential that our First Nations students get the support they need to complete year 12 and move into meaningful jobs or study after school," Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said.
Clontarf, who encourage boys and young men to improve their confidence, school engagement, year 12 attainment and post-school pathways, will receive $33.6 million to help support up to 12,500 Indigenous boys and young men to continue their education in 2026.
Established in WA in 2000 a single academy and a programme which catered for 25 students and was operated by two staff, the Clontarf Foundation provides in-school support, as well as activities before and after school, and has an established record of improving student engagement through higher attendances, retention, and performance in academia.
In 2023, the foundation reported 836 young men completed year 12, whilst 86 per cent of the young men who graduated the previous year remained in jobs or further education 12 months after leaving school.
"With a strong focus on school attendance, relationship building, academic outcomes and participation in society, Clontarf Foundation is helping young men develop the skills they need for life," Minister McCarthy said.
Education Minister Jason Clare said he wanted more kids to "catch up, keep up and finish school".
"The work the Clontarf Foundation is doing for young Indigenous boys is great," he said.
"They are increasing attendance rates and helping more Indigenous students finish school and go on to TAFE or university."
A further $1.5 million will be provided to the MultiLit program under the Scaling Up Proven Primary Reading Program, which delivers phonics-based programs to support primary school students to help catch up in reading and early literacy.
Minister Clare said the program is "evidence-based" and is "helping more Indigenous students in rural and remote Australia read and write".
The funding will allow MultiLit to continue to be delivered in 42 regional and remote primary schools - the majority with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students - until the end of 2026.
Minister McCarthy said that for over 20 years, MultiLit has been "delivering data-driven programs to help First Nations students improve their reading and writing skills".
Last year, Chloe Allen, an Awabakal and Dunghutti woman who grew up in the Northern Rivers on Bundjalung Country, told National Indigenous Times she noticed children enrolled in the MultiLit program became used to the lesson structure, which offered reassurance and confidence, which in turn fostered engagement.
"Students who previously struggled to engage with reading are now well on the way to becoming confident and fluent readers," she said.
Chairman and founding director, Kevin Wheldall AM, reiterated this at the time, arguing, "Barriers to literacy can be overcome when schools and teachers are equipped with the right knowledge and tools to support all children to learn to read to the best of their ability".
