To understand improved outcomes for indigenous students is to embrace and understand inclusion. A recent trip to Uluru for meetings and consultancy on this topic exposed some poor practices in some mainstream schools in the Northern Territory. Excluding students because of their expected challenging behaviour does little to address the crisis in juvenile justice in that state. The behaviour of some students proves to be a barrier so significant that some educators cannot see the child within. All behaviour communicates a need and better outcomes can be achieved with positive practice and inclusion. This requires a change in thinking for many who seek to blame and point the finger at the student and their families. This is not to suggest the path ahead is easy or that we omit to make people responsible for their choices but exclusion is not the answer.
