Opening The Doors Foundation
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History of Opening The Doors Foundation

The Opening The Doors Foundation was launched on August 4 2001 - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day.

The Foundation was established to relieve the poverty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people so that their children will have a greater choice to education through independent educational institutions.

The Opening The Doors Foundation arose from within the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry For Victoria, an Aboriginal organization responding to an expressed need voiced by the Aboriginal community in Victoria.

The theme of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day in 2001 was: "We are watching and learning from you - make us proud of what you do" It is the intention of the Opening The Doors Foundation that the Indigenous youth of Victoria will be proud of what it does in offering them an educational opportunity that will make a real and tangible difference in their lives.

The Foundation will help to fill the gaps in service provision not presently available through existing organizations, including those organizations designed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in Victoria.

Some reasons for the Establishment of the Foundation

• The Centre for Aboriginal research (CAEPR) notes that if Indigenous Australians do not 'keep up' with the rest of the Australian population in educational attainment this will result in Indigenous Australians being less competitive in the labour market and increase the risk of continuing the cycle of severe poverty and disadvantage.

  July 12, 2005left">58% of the Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population is under 25 years of age.

• Only 46.1% of Victorian Indigenous full time students continue to year 12compared with 78.8% of the population.

• Only 20.1% of the Victorian Aboriginal community has a post secondary qualification compared with 33.8% of the total population. of that the highest percentage is in the skilled vocational area not university level.

• The Victorian Aboriginal community has a higher unemployment rate then the wider community: 17.6% compared to 7.3%.

• Historically, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in education has not produced models of successful outcomes. It is only two generations removed that Aboriginal and Torres Strait people were prevented by law in obtaining an education.