Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Mathematics Alliance

ATSIMA is a recently formed, non-profit member based group representing organisations, communities, institutes and individuals across Australia. We aim to inspire, promote and support improved mathematics outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

ATSIMA is led by Dr Chris Matthews, a Noonuccal man from Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island), Quandamooka First Nation (Moreton Bay) in Queensland. Chris completed his PhD in Applied Mathematics in 2003.

ATSIMA is pleased to announce our national conference in July bringing together a collaboration of leaders, educators and stakeholders from Community, education, research, and business sectors around Australia to the traditional lands of theWurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. Go to the conference page for more details about how you can be involved or register now.

ATSIMA has a number of potential initiatives - community-based, some STEM related, others about developing leaders in Indigenous education and maths education. Interested? Consider partnering with us or becoming an ATSIMA member to make them a reality.

There is a critical need to change what is happening in the mathematics classroom for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners around Australia.

A sound mathematics education opens doors to all sorts of career and lifestyle opportunities. This may become even critical in light of the Australian Government’s omnipresent and growing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) agenda. However, for those of us who are not on the receiving end of the benefits of satisfactory mathematics experiences and effective teaching in our schooling years, associated levels of disadvantage can be pervasive with many consequences.

What does this mean for many Aboriginal learners in our schools? Mathematics education can make a difference. To life opportunities, family and community economies, career pathways. There is an urgency to improve their mathematics learning outcomes if they are to achieve opportunity with the rest of Australia.

We know how important maths is to life outcomes and that maths can open many doors to opportunity so ATSIMA presented at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Conference in November.

Have a look at our slides with notes (PDF 3MB) about 5 ways forward to improving maths outcomes of Indigenous students and opening doors or click on the image.

"ATSIMA is looking to a new narrative about maths for Indigenous kids – one that abounds with success and promise - where all kids will be successful in maths. Today we are going to talk to you about three things: the current status in mathematics education for our kids; what we know and what it already happening, and then the possibilities and hopes for the future and importantly, making the most of opportunities. This presentation is about all of us here today and an invitation to you to join us. It’s a challenge to you and an appeal to you to make a difference. So why do we need to do something?"