Are there any ideas about indigenous Australians that does not involve simply throwing money at them?

Andrew, Nice idea but why not extend it, at least for Indigenous people in remote communities such as outstations? Pay them to move to larger population centres where they might actually find jobs once they've been to school. Many of these remote communities only exist because of government money, and you can predict how much they're likely to cost the public purse over the next fifty years. So why not use public money to "buy them out" of the welfare system?

Don't we already have a system called Abstudy? I am not familiar with the details but perhaps it needs to be increased and rely more on actual attendance rather than just enrolment to act as an incentive.

Andrew

If throwing money at the problem would be the solution, then it would'nt be a problem with all the money that has been thrown at it over the years.

There are actions that can already be taken should children not attend school. Unfortunately authorities just won't take the action and truency is more or less forgotten about.

Until aboriginal people themselves regocnize that education and school attendance is a matter for them to worry about and not for others to do it for them, this problem will continue.

Typical white thinking.

This is the most absurd strategy i have ever seen.

The problem lies not with the kids, it is the pressure from the surrounding structure of family, friends and the like who disenchant many of these kids.

Their grandfathers and grandmothers have had little education, many of these do not place or see value in education and many have been subjected to much having to attempt integrate with white society in much tougher times.

The parents who are often also engulfed in problems and many of whom have had little education see no real value in education, and combined with many being in appauling conditions in Ghettos and having various social problems how is a child supposed to know right from wrong, and how is a child expected to see the world in the manner in which the white kids do.

It lies with the generations before them who were mistreated and now know little of what can be achieved out in the world, therefore effecting their children.

in 5 generations i am sure this problem has the ability to be solved without money, and without teaching kids to get on the government gravy train from day 1.

the solution is in educating the adults, then the children will have role models they can see, feel and touch every day, then they will naturally follow. A cathy freeman poster does not cut it in the Aboriginal room of the school.

I am appauled you would even consider this option, and this is why white people with little real understanding worsen the situation with best interests at heart.

Put your $10 per day into teaching the adults at tafe if you have to, dont give it to kids and disadvantage them further.

I am all for promoting attendance in schools and education being the answer, so why then are we using money as an incentive, shouldn't education and opportunity be incentive enough? Where do we draw the line? do we pay asylum seekers and refugees to go to school, do we pay the underprivileged average joe bloggs out in the burbs or the country who can't afford school clothes to even wear to school? It just doesn't seem right to keep throwing money at this minority group as the solution to all their problems. Paying children to go to school just isn't the answer.