The Stronger Smarter Leadership Program is a national program that engages principals, school leaders and key community members with Indigenous students and practises effective leadership strategies and educational approaches that will lead to better futures and high expectations outcomes for Indigenous children.

The program, run by the Stronger Smarter Institute through the Queensland University of Technology, and supported by the Telstra Foundation is designed to challenge and support leadership at all levels of education and aims to implement the transformational change necessary to achieve these improvements.

Participants gain a clear connection to Indigenous perspectives and issues, a heightened awareness of their power, responsibilities as leaders and an educated grasp of the possibilities and potential they have in their communities.

“We have to challenge Indigenous kids’ views about their future. We have to teach these students to have high expectations,” says program creator and Executive Director Dr Chris Sarra.

By taking on this challenge and changing their approach, participants are able to build on existing strengths and skills in their schools and local communities to see improvements over time in the self esteem of their students as well as increased levels of attendance, literacy, numeracy and information retention.