Centenary of the Montessori Movement

Social Reform

Programmes Worldwide

Australia

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Contact Details:
Montessori Children's Foundation
PO Box 1460
Dee Why NSW 2009
Australia
Phone: 61 2 9971 2634
Fax: 61 2 9971 4430
montessorifoundation
@bigpond.com
montessorifoundation.org

Montessori Children’s Foundation

Projects in Indigenous and Remote Communities

Montessori learning programs have been developing in indigenous communities over the last 20 years in Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales. The Montessori approach is particularly well received within indigenous communities for the following reasons.

	Indigenous culture is respected and reflected in custom-made teaching resources.

	All children in Montessori classrooms progress at their own speed.

	There is no emphasis on competition.

	Montessori recognises the crucial importance of the first years of life and offers practical means to support the optimal development of infants and young children.

	Montessori is a consistent and long-term approach.

	Montessori has shown a long-term commitment to specific indigenous communities and trust has been built with elders, community members and parents.

	Bilingual programs are easily implemented in the Montessori environments.

	Montessori has a strong emphasis on parent involvement and parent education.

	Children become actively and productively engaged in the learning activities due to the combination of movement, sensorial learning and the ability to freely choose an activity.

	The importance of observation and modelling positive behaviours and activities is a learning style appreciated by indigenous communities.

	Montessori programs have led to positive learning outcomes as well as increased self-esteem and contentment amongst the children. This has a beneficial effect on the communities as parents feel more encouraged and become more actively involved in their children’s education.

Redfern, NSW - Barbara Stephen, Director of the Gamarada Redfern Montessori Centre has lived in Redfern for eight years. Her tireless efforts, all as an unpaid volunteer, have provided support for local families and a nurturing Montessori environment for children aged 0 to 6.

Cairns West, QLD - Since 1989 Ardyn Masterman, a Montessori teacher, has been working to bring Montessori education to the indigenous communities of Northern Queensland. A pilot project has been established at Cairns West State School and has been running successfully for five years with indigenous Montessori Teacher Louisa Sagiba. The school enjoys the full support of Principal, Ann Mauger, who has worked tirelessly to maintain the programme.

Woorabinda, QLD - Wadja Wadja High School is an independent indigenous secondary school. The school is located in the community of Woorabinda with a population of approximately 1,000 inhabitants, 170 km south west of Rockhampton in Central Queensland. A pilot project has been established in this remote community to apply the Montessori universal educational principles to the education of the indigenous students. The program is staffed by two Montessori teachers, Jenny and Joel Rioux and is offered to students aged from 13 and 15 years. The project is in its third year of operation and students have responded very well to the programme which is having a positive impact on the whole community.

Cape York and Torres Strait - Plans are underway to establish Montessori programmes for children from birth to age six. It is believed that such programmes will play a key role in an overall strategy to improve education and life outcomes in the region.

Armidale, NSW - A pilot Montessori Primary classroom has been established at the Minimbah Aboriginal School commencing May 2006. Montessori teacher, Peter Erskine, is working with the school community to implement the programme. MCF has provided a grant for the Montessori materials required to set up the classroom environment.