Our Vision

The Opening The Doors Foundation is a 24-year old First Nations led organisation supporting educational opportunities for First Nations children. It provides First Nations children from regional, remote and urban communities across Australia, with educational opportunities within Victorian non-government schools - enabling them to participate fully and equally in education, by supporting families to make their own choices about their children’s future for their entire education journey from foundation to Year 12.  It is the only First Nations organisation that supports a child throughout their entire13-year educational journey. The achievement of a successful and culturally appropriate education experience helps 'Close The Gap', radically altering the systemic and generational disadvantage currently being experienced.

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OTDF offers direct support to First Nations students and their families, ensuring they are able to choose the quality education they deserve, are retained and supported in education and have the same opportunities as any other Australian children, thereby reducing inequalities. We achieve these goals by providing families with the opportunity to self-determine their education. The Aboriginal self-determination policy introduced in 1972 replaced assimilation as the official government approach to Indigenous affairs. First Nations people gained the right to make decisions about matters affecting their
own lives, including their education. The cost of an Independent school education, because of the requirement to pay school fees, in addition to other education expenses like uniforms, in effect removes the self-determining choice. OTDF’s support closes the cost gap by supporting parents and guardians, reduces inequalities and reinstates self-determined education choice.

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