Indigenous teachers 'key' to better learning

A chronic shortage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander teachers has sparked calls for a new academy to promote Indigenous education.

What's billed as an historic Indigenous teacher's conference in Adelaide has heard Australia today has just 2,500 indigenous educators, but requires at least 10,000 to meet the needs of the growing indigenous student population.

The “Teachers are Deadly” conference has drawn more than 200 indigenous educators to brainstorm ways of attracting - and keeping – young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the profession.

An expert who's been grappling with this challenge for more than 20 years is Judith Ketchell, Executive Principal of Tagai State college.

Tagai is an amalgamation of 17 campuses in the Torres Straits, comprising 15 primary schools, one secondary school and a TAFE campus spread across 48,000 square kilometres.

Ms Ketchell thinks an academy to give a united voice to indigenous education professionals would help achieve policies by indigenous people, for indigenous people, that actually work.

Watch the full interview with school principal Judith Ketchell: