An Aboriginal Adult Literacy Campaign Pilot Study in Australia using Yes I Can

Boughton, Bob; Chee, Donna Ah; Beetson, Jack; Durnan, Deborah; LeBlanch, Jose Chala

doi:10.5130/lns.v21i1.3328

Cited by 11 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 16 publications

(10 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Thus, improving the rate of adult literacy, needs to be understood as an important contributor to improving community cohesion, a very important value in Aboriginal communities, and a value that is embedded within the YIC! campaign (Boughton, Chee, Beetson, Durnan, & LeBlanch, 2013). This impact of the campaign was noted by the principal at Enngonia who commented, people in the community were encouraging each other and motivating each other.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

The Relationship Between Low Adult Literacy Levels and Aboriginal Family and Community Engagement in Educational Decision Making

Ratcliffe¹,

Boughton²

2022

AIJRE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article draws on work with communities in the rural and remote towns of Brewarrina, Wilcannia and Enngonia, New South Wales (NSW) to explore the relationship between low adult literacy levels and the continuing alienation of Aboriginal communities from educational decision making. Building on the analysis of community-school relations conducted by scholars such as Jay Phillips, Allan Luke and Kevin Lowe, we contend that it is exceedingly difficult to address the problems which prevent more productive relationships between communities and schools in widespread and sustainable ways, without also addressing the problem of low adult literacy. Communities who have participated in the Yes, I Can! Aboriginal Adult Literacy Campaign help us to understand a number of important issues, including, the extent of disenfranchisement that is associated with inadequate adult literacy, the enormity of the challenges faced by previously low-literate and disengaged people to re-engage in community life, the additional pressures placed on literate members of the community when many people have minimal literacy, and the relationship between low rates of adult literacy and the persistence of deficit thinking on the part of schools.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

The Relationship Between Low Adult Literacy Levels and Aboriginal Family and Community Engagement in Educational Decision Making

Ratcliffe¹,

Boughton²

2022

AIJRE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…YIC is implemented in three interrelated phases: phase 1 involves up to six months of preparatory work, socialising and mobilising the community and its resources around the issue of low adult English literacy and its impacts; phase 2 consists of three months of basic literacy lessons, delivered by trained and supported local community members; and phase 3, or 'post literacy' provides a further three months of structured applied literacy activities. The YIC campaign was first delivered in a remote western NSW community in 2012 (Boughton et al 2013). A distinguishing feature of the model, compared with previous attempts to raise First Nations adult literacy levels, is its high degree of community ownership and control.…”

Section: The Yes I Can! Adult Literacy Campaignmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This partnership approach to conducting research activities with First Nation communities aligns with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN General Assembly 2007). Previous research has documented a range of benefits for Indigenous people, including measurable literacy improvements, improved self-confidence and selfcontrol, reduction in alcohol and drug use, reduced aggression and an increased sense of community and community cohesion (Boughton et al 2013;Boughton and Williamson 2019;Durnan and Boughton 2018;Lin et al 2020;Ratcliffe and Boughton 2019;Williamson and Boughton 2020).…”

Section: The Yes I Can! Adult Literacy Campaignmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of a Community-Controlled Adult Literacy Campaign on Crime and Justice Outcomes in Remote Australian Aboriginal Communities

Beetson¹,

Anderson

Lin

et al. 2022

Int J for Crime, Justice & Social Democracy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Using qualitative self-reported and observational evidence combined with a quantitative breakdown of linked administrative justice system data, this before-and-after study demonstrates the beneficial impacts of a First Nations community-controlled adult literacy campaign in six rural and remote communities in New South Wales, Australia. The most significant quantitative finding is a 50% reduction in reported serious offences in a sample of 162 campaign participants. Qualitative data from interviews found an increased use of legal assistance services following the campaign.. These findings are contextualised through the lived experiences and perceptions of First Nations campaign staff and participants, community leaders and government and non-government agency personnel.

show abstract

“…A total of 39 adults graduated from the Yes, I Can! literacy campaign between September 2015 and December 2017 (see Boughton et al, 2013 for a more detailed account of the campaign model and its impacts on other communities). Table 1 presents the Brewarrina campaign statistics.…”

Section: Brewarrina: a Legacy Of Disempowermentmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘I can speak on this here’: empowerment within an Aboriginal adult literacy campaign

Williamson¹,

Boughton²

2020

AJIE

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This case study details the impacts of an Aboriginal-led adult literacy campaign in Brewarrina between 2015 and 2017. Forming part of a wider investigation into literacy as a social determinant of health, the study explores the relationship between involvement in the literacy campaign and the capacity of graduates to take greater control of the conditions affecting their lives. Empowerment is used here as the central explanatory construct despite robust criticism of theoretical slippage. We argue that empowerment remains relevant particularly in the context of ongoing and entrenched disenfranchisement of the low-literate in Australian Aboriginal communities. Drawing on in-depth ‘yarning’ interviews, we find strong evidence of individual empowerment among graduates of the adult literacy campaign, particularly in terms of increased self-control and confidence. However, collective change such as increased participation and organisation at the community level is less apparent. This finding underscores two important aspects of empowerment. Firstly, like learning to read and write, the task of regaining personal and collective power can be a slow and difficult undertaking. Secondly, achieving empowerment is intimately linked to addressing the causes of disempowerment. This ultimately means tackling those power relations which impact choices, opportunities and well-being beyond the borders of individual's lives and communities.

show abstract

An Aboriginal Adult Literacy Campaign Pilot Study in Australia using Yes I Can

Cited by 11 publications

References 16 publications

The Relationship Between Low Adult Literacy Levels and Aboriginal Family and Community Engagement in Educational Decision Making

The Relationship Between Low Adult Literacy Levels and Aboriginal Family and Community Engagement in Educational Decision Making

Impact of a Community-Controlled Adult Literacy Campaign on Crime and Justice Outcomes in Remote Australian Aboriginal Communities

‘I can speak on this here’: empowerment within an Aboriginal adult literacy campaign

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About