The Power of the Whole Learner
Transforming the Narrative: Dr Josh Cubillo’s Research Highlights the Power of the Whole Learner
By Andrew Lawlor, Executive Manager of Education
At AFL SportsReady, we believe in backing leaders and ideas that genuinely challenge the status quo. That’s why we are celebrating the powerful and positive research shared by Dr Josh Cubillo (Larrakia, Wadjigan and Central Arrernte man and AFL SportsReady Board Member) on Indigenous learning success.
His research, titled “The Power of Recognising More Characteristics,” doesn’t just ask what success looks like; it provides a blueprint for how institutions must change to foster it. The core message is clear and compelling: “We want to be seen for our whole selves, not only what can be captured in exams.”
Shifting Focus: From Deficit to Strength
Dr Cubillo’s work validates a crucial, long-overdue shift in educational methodology. It shifts the focus from what is missing to what is already strong.
| The Old Narrative |
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The New, Strengths-Based Approach |
| Focus on Deficit Narratives |
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Strengths-Based Recognition: Leveraging existing Indigenous capability and resilience. |
| Measuring Attendance |
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Valuing Belonging: A direct mechanism for increasing engagement. |
| Focusing on “Closing Gaps” |
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Opening Opportunities: Focusing on innovation and expansion of successful practices. |
This methodological shift offers immediate strategic value, guiding us to create environments that improve morale and focus resources on asset-building for our participants.
The Three Threads of Success
The research synthesised findings from numerous successful Indigenous programs nationwide, identifying nine key success factors that cluster into three powerful Common Threads. These threads are the “high-leverage factors” that must be systematically embedded into our educational frameworks, including our VET programs.
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Culture:
Success requires active cultural visibility and inclusion with leadership that champions culture. This means ensuring Indigenous culture is robustly integrated into all curriculum and spaces.
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Community:
Success grows from strong, reciprocal strong relationships and mentoring from Elders and community role models, building confidence and belonging.
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Connection:
Success is secured through genuine belonging and young people’s empowerment, often nurtured within dedicated Indigenous spaces in schools.
The Insight: When culture, community and connection are actively cultivated, they form the core systemic conditions that ensure students feel safe, proud and motivated to learn.
A Call to Action: Systemic Change
Dr Cubillo’s research is not just theory; it provides actionable recommendations for lasting systemic change, directly informing our future programs at AFL SportsReady:
Empowering Leadership:
We must decentralise power and create Indigenous-led governance and advisory structures to ensure our frameworks are driven by cultural expertise.
New Metrics:
We need to stop relying on “deficit data frames.” We are challenged to develop new metrics that actively value learning beyond the classroom, quantifying success in terms of leadership, cultural engagement and community contribution.
Partnerships:
We must strengthen and formalise partnerships with Communities and Elders, compensating them as essential role models and ensuring cultural integrity across all delivery models.
By internalising and acting on these insights, AFL SportsReady is committed to ensuring our programs not only meet compliance but genuinely transform educational outcomes through the power of holistic recognition.
Since 2000, we have kick-started the careers of over 3,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Trainees.
The Warumilang Program is our dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Program to assist First Nations peoples with tailored employment and training pathways that aim to provide opportunities for First Nations peoples to thrive and be successful.
