Taree Indigenous Development and Employment (TIDE) Ltd announced that it has been contracted by the department of employment education and workplace relations to deliver the Parent and Community Engagement Program (PACE).

Chief executive officer of TIDE, John Clark OAM, said the PACE program aims to engage with Aboriginal families so they become more involved with their children’s school life.

“The priority of the PACE Program is to support the capacity of Indigenous families and communities to reach into schools, so that they might more effectively participate in school decision making and school activities and to support improved educational outcomes for their children,” Mr Clark said.

“By building stronger relationships between the school and the family, the family will be more able to support their children’s experiences and achievements” he said. Mr Clark said research strongly supports schools working closely with Indigenous communities to raise the educational achievements of their children.

The PACE coordinator, Rosie Herberte, who was appointed by an all Indigenous selection panel, will be working closely with Aboriginal communities, the local Aboriginal Education Consultative Committee (AECG) and with the schools.

“National targets agreed by the Council of Australian Governments (Australia’s peak intergovernmental body) include halving the gap in reading, writing and numeracy achievements for Indigenous children by 2018 and to halve the gap for Indigenous students in year 12 attainment or equivalent attainment rates by 2020,” said Mr Clark.

“As one of the leading regional providers of Indigenous services, including Job Services Australia, the Indigenous Employment Program, the Community Support Service and the Indigenous Ranger Program, TIDE is delighted to have been asked to add the PACE program to its wide range of services.”